BY ALEJANDRO DAVILA
2:23 p.m. PST, December 13, 2011
Nearly $1 billion in midyear cuts will affect schools and social services announced Governor Jerry Brown during a press conference today.
The state's revenues fell about $2.2 billion below the assumptions included in the budget Gov. Brown signed in the summer. The lack of revenue will trigger automatic midyear reductions to public schools, universities, colleges, and in-home support for seniors and the disables starting Jan. 1.
The county administration is not going to be affected by the cuts, said County Executive Officer Ralph Cordova, but the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) will.
The automatic cuts call for a 20 percent reduction in the IHSS, said Social Services Director James Semmes. The IHSS provides care for the elderly and the disabled in their homes. The cuts are "on hold," Semmes said, after a court injunction was placed on the cuts December 1.
About 5,500 benefit from the IHSS, he said, and if the cuts do move forward these clients will see a reduction in the IHSS service hours. A court decision on the issue may happen within a month, Semmes said.
For more information on how the budget cuts will impact county agencies, buy the Imperial Valley Press Wednesday 14 or read the electronic edition.
