County Officials Support Brown Budget Plan

Alameda County officials have endorsed Gov. Jerry Brown's latest plan to extend tax increases in an effort to balance the state budget.

County officials said Tuesday the tax hikes are a better alternative than more cuts in programs at the city, county and local level.

They added that the uncertainty over the state budget continues to leave unanswered questions in Alameda County's 2011-2012 spending plan.

“There is some relief in that we aren’t seeing a whole new list of cuts beyond the significant reductions that have already been approved in Sacramento this year,’’ said County Administrator Susan Muranishi. “But we also know that Alameda County is going to have to move on some serious budget adjustments for the coming fiscal year, all the while knowing that the other shoe may drop if the state Legislature and the voters do not ultimately support the tax extensions being proposed by the governor.’’

On Monday, Gov. Brown called for an extension of vehicle-license fee and sales tax rates in order to close a state budget deficit estimated at $9.6 billion. That number is lower than previous estimates, based in large part on an unexpected influx of revenue to the state that the governor estimated at $6.6 billion.

County officials said there are questions left unresolved by the governor’s revised budget, including the proposed “realignment’’ that would to shift to local government responsibility for public safety, mental health services and other programs now overseen by the state.

On Monday, county officials discussed proposals to eliminate the $138 million deficit now forecast in Alameda County's 2011-2012 budget.

“While we appreciate the efforts being made in Sacramento to limit any further damage to the local safety net, there is no doubt that the choices before us will be very difficult indeed,’’ said Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson. “And as we confront these difficult issues, there is an all-too-familiar sense that getting our own fiscal house in order does not necessarily mean that our colleagues in Sacramento will be doing the same.’’