Josh Premako has the details on how the budget deal will impact Santa Clarita:
The city of Santa Clarita stands to be dealt a nearly $7 million blow if the state approves a tentative budget deal to address its $26.3 billion deficit.
As part of a budget plan announced Monday, the state would borrow $3.2 million in local property tax revenue, $3 million in gas tax revenue and $300,000 in redevelopment money annually for three years, City Manager Ken Pulskamp said Tuesday.
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Included in the proposed deal to address the state’s $26.3 billion deficit is a cut of $226 million from the state in-home supportive services program for the frail and disabled.
Losing in-home care funding is one of the biggest fears for Brad Berens, executive director of the Senior Center.
“We are going to be just overwhelmed,” Berens said. “I expect this to be pretty devastating for us.”
Of the 8,500 seniors the center serves, about 3,000 are frail, primarily home-bound people.
Am I to understand that some 3,000 elderly SCV residents won’t be visited by state health care workers anymore? Who’s going to help them out then? Is this where the whole conservative notion of “personal responsibility” comes in to play, ie, the disabled, home-bound, frail seniors ought to help themselves?
General budget cuts are impacting other parts of the SCV too, unconnected to the City of Santa Clarita. A few weeks ago, the LA Times reported that the beach/recreation area next to the Castaic Lake Lagoon would be closed for several days through September.
That’s not to mention the 27,000 offenders who also may get released early due to state budget cuts. Wonder how many of them will be transferred to County jails or released into our area?
And today there is word that the CSU is raising tuition by 20%. Community Colleges are also going to charge more per unit too. Good luck to our high school seniors!
The video below sums up my feelings on the matter: