CSAC outlines state budget, homelessness and disaster priorities to Lake County supervisors

Graham (CSAC representative) and CSAC staff told the Lake County Board of Supervisors on a presentation item that recent state budget negotiations leave counties with unresolved funding for several programs, including voter-approved changes under Proposition 36 and homelessness programs, and they urged increased local engagement with CSAC to improve outcomes.

The presentation, given by a CSAC representative identified in the meeting as Graham, focused on CSAC’s role in lifting county priorities at the state and federal level, current legislative activity affecting counties, and program services CSAC offers to help counties pursue grants and technical assistance. "You cannot deliver services for free," Graham said, arguing the state must fund new responsibilities created by Proposition 36 for behavioral health, probation and other county agencies.

The panel summarized several items of direct relevance to Lake County. Chief among them was the fiscal uncertainty around Proposition 36, the voter-approved change to the criminal justice system. CSAC said a recent legislative budget agreement includes only a modest appropriation—"just shy of $100,000,000" in CSAC's description—far less than…