San Diego County's chief administrative officer and Supervisor Greg Cox both warned today that state budget proposals would again put a squeeze on local programs in the next fiscal year.
The state of California "continues to shirk its responsibilities" by not fully funding mandated programs administered by counties, said Cox, who sits on the executive committee of the California State Association of Counties.
The county share of costs to run such programs has increased by 40 percent in recent years, claiming funds that could be used for other services, Cox told fellow members of the Board of Supervisors.
CAO Walt Ekard said local county staff was already looking for ways to save money next year.
"We're going to have less money to help more and more people in need" because of the poor economy, according to Ekard, who did not give a projected dollar amount for the impact on the county of the state budget proposals.
