By Khalida Sarwari
Santa Clara County’s $219.6 million budget deficit could have significant impacts on public safety, officials from the district attorney, public defender, and sheriff offices said in a workshop on Thursday.
The workshop was the third in a series held this week to review proposed budget recommendations for the 2012 fiscal year.
County Executive Jeff Smith has recommended a $4 million budget that takes into account all services, operations, capital improvements and reserves.
The recommended budget addresses the county’s 10th consecutive year of deficits through program and service cuts, use of one-time revenue and layoffs.
During a presentation to the Board of Supervisors on Thursday, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said his office has achieved a $6.5 million reduction of its budget, but not without making across-the-board cuts, including 21.5 positions.
Rosen said the cuts are “damaging to the criminal justice system.”
He said the result has been a shortage of trial attorneys and that this year the cuts would target the welfare fraud investigations unit. He recommended that welfare fraud investigations be led by the county’s social services agency for a savings of about $3.5 million.
Additional initiatives to save money include the consolidation of two courthouses and reduced fleet vehicles.
Public Defender Mary Greenwood told the Board of Supervisors her office has achieved $388,576 in total ongoing savings by eliminating one attorney, and reducing library services, fleet vehicles, and funding for research clerks.
During their presentation, sheriff’s officials said the office is considering eliminating 75 positions, including patrol deputies, detectives, and warrant service deputies.
The cuts would also impact Department of Correction officers and programs staff.
Budget hearing meetings to make final decisions on the budget will take place from June 13-17.