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County told May revise could force program cuts; committee backs forwarding state bill positions
Summary
State budget uncertainty and several amended bills prompted county staff to seek the committee’s concurrence on legislative positions; the committee agreed to forward positions on homelessness funding, telecom and health measures to the full Board.
Amy Costa presented the county’s state legislative update, telling the committee that the Department of Finance reported general fund revenues $144 million below the governor’s March forecast and that caucus briefings have suggested a possible budget shortfall in the range of $15 billion to $25 billion.
“Policy committee deadline is next week,” Costa said, and the governor’s May revise is due by May 14; she warned that state leaders may pass a budget on schedule and then return to adjust it later if federal actions change revenue projections.
Costa flagged several bills the county is tracking. She said AB 470 (an AT&T-related bill) was amended to add procedural clarifications but still lacks a standard for ‘comparably priced’ options and does not specify funding levels. She also described SB 16 (by Senator Blake Spear), noting recent amendments removed a county cost-share requirement and refocused the bill on defining governmental responsibilities and directing a 10-year plan to end unsheltered homelessness. Costa said the county’s sponsored SB 617 was also scheduled for hearing.
Chair Tam and Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bass discussed a county request to maintain funding for housing and homelessness programs, including a specific county ask of $309 million. “We’re only asking for $309,000,000,” Chair Tam said. Costa said in the current fiscal climate agencies will watch medical program actions closely because changes there substantially affect the state budget.
Staff presented requests for formal county positions on several bills — including support for AB 315 (Medi-Cal home- and community-based services waiver), support for AB 349 (infant supplement for parenting foster youth), support for AB 543 (street medicine under Medi-Cal), and opposition to AB 396 (needle and syringe exchange services as an unfunded mandate) and SB 404 (hazardous materials metal shredding facilities bill that would limit local oversight). The committee agreed to move those recommendations forward to the full Board with concurrence.
The county will watch for the May revise and any federal decisions that could require the state to return to amend the budget later this year.
