County makes up for lack of state cash

The budget stalemate in Sacramento has forced Sonoma County officials to divert $3.8 million from the general fund to maintain child welfare services, foster care, adoptions, adult protective services and in-home support services.

The state likely will reimburse the money, but not the lost interest to the general fund account, said Jo Weber, the county's human services director.

Since the start of the new fiscal year July 1, the state has halted $3 billion in payments, and that money will not flow until a budget is signed.

Weber estimates that since July 1 the county has lost $24,000 in interest earnings. That amount is likely to double if the impasse drags into late September, she said.

"We will somehow have to make that up," Weber said. "It may mean fewer funds available for contracting services or other things that the general fund contributes to."

State funds cover half of the $174.5 million budget of the county Human Services Department. The $3.8 million taken from the general fund represents the state's obligation to the department since July 1.

The money includes:

$282,000 for emergency and ongoing foster care placements, group homes and inpatient treatment for children who have been abused.

$535,000 for families who adopt children permanently removed from their homes.

$776,000 for administration services at the Valley of the Moon children's shelter.

$268,000 for child care services.

$160,800 for staff support of in-home supportive services.

$232,400 for determining eligibility for food stamps.

Weber said that even after the state reimburses the county, the outlook for social service funding will still be bleak. Social services in the state have not received a "cost-of-doing-business" increase since 2001, she said.

The budget stalemate has in some cases frozen payments to subsidized child care providers.

Some agencies that administer these state subsidies have taken out loans and lines of credit to continue making payments to providers. Others, however, do not have that option and have been unable to pay child care providers.

First 5 Sonoma County, a quasi-government agency that focuses on early childhood development, has created a $1.5 million emergency fund to soften the impact of the crisis.

Jennie Tasheff, executive director of First 5 Sonoma County, said agencies that administer subsidies to child care providers will be given no-interest loans so providers can be paid.

First 5 expects to lose money as a result of the legislative deadlock over the budget. Tasheff said the $1.5 million "is part of our sustainability fund" and that the stalemate is costing the agency "the interest that we would be earning on that money."

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@

pressdemocrat.com.