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County staff urge attention to California budget risks; committee votes to support SB 501 on batteries
Summary
Full Moon Strategies briefed supervisors on state budget hearings, the LAO's $18 billion structural shortfall warning and possible transit funding risks; the committee unanimously voted to forward a support position on SB 501 (Ben Allen) to the full Board.
Daryl Dentist of Full Moon Strategies told the Alameda County Personnel, Administration and Legislation Committee that recent California Assembly and Senate budget committee hearings highlighted an $18 billion structural deficit and that revenue gains tied to the stock market are fragile.
"The LAO estimates an $18,000,000,000 structural shortfall," Dentist said, noting the Legislative Analyst's Office urged the legislature to work with the administration ahead of the May revision rather than delay major corrections. The Department of Finance, Dentist said, defended the governor's proposal and cited a $42,300,000,000 revenue upgrade.
Dentist and supervisors discussed transportation and housing implications. He relayed that some lawmakers oppose redirecting long‑term capital funds to transit operations and warned that the Department of Finance’s initial approach could jeopardize as much as $6,000,000,000 in federal matching funds for Bay Area capital projects if capital projects were delayed.
On county legislative priorities, Dentist said Full Moon Strategies is working with the delegation to secure an author for a proposal on Alameda Health Systems (AHS) governance and is pursuing cleanup language for EMS definitions tied to SB 81; he said the team expected confirmation on an AHS author imminently.
The committee then considered a request from Alameda County Health to take a support position on SB 501, a bill sponsored by Sen. Ben Allen that would expand producer responsibility and recycling for certain batteries. Supervisor Parthenon Abbas moved to forward a support position to the full Board; the motion was seconded and the committee recorded the motion as passed by roll call.
"Yes, I support this," the Chair stated on behalf of concurrence before the formal motion and the committee then voted to send the position to the Board.
Several county staff and program representatives identified themselves for the record at the end of the meeting, including officials from the Treasurer‑Tax Collector's Office, Alameda County Health, Alameda County Community Food Bank, the Assessor's Office, First 5 Alameda County and HCD.
The committee adjourned after completing the agenda and forwarding the SB 501 support position to the full Board.
