The chief executive officer (CEO) for Los Angeles County released the $23.781 billion FY 2012-13 Recommended County Budget. This recommended budget represents a total 2.3 percent decline from the 2011-12 budget of $24.346 billion. A reduction in the Hospital Enterprise Fund is attributed to decreased state revenue collected from court fines/collections (Maddy).

At the department level, no countywide curtailment plan is being proposed in the recommended budgets submitted by Health Services, Public Health and Mental Health.

LA County’s projected deficit is estimated to be $75.8 million in terms of Net County Cost portion of the budget financed with local revenues. The CEO proposes to use one-time funding sources to help bridge this gap. The primary driver for this unavoidable cost increase is the estimated 5 percent increase in employee benefits due to losses in the retirement system. On the revenue side, the county is forecasting increases in locally generated revenues.

A public budget hearing is scheduled for May 16, with final adoption expected on June 18.