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State Report Emphasizes Need For Funding At County Level

SACRAMENTO (KCBS) – A report released by the California Legislative Analyst's Office is cautioning state lawmakers to make sure that counties receive enough funding to take responsibility for a wide range of programs.

As part of the budget package, state lawmakers agreed to move criminal justice, mental health and social service programs to local governments, primarily counties.

KCBS' Betsy Gebhart Reports:

In total, the realignment plan provides $6.3 billion to local governments to fund the various programs in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

But Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Dave Cortese said he is concerned about funding at the local level with a perfect example being the state's juvenile justice system.

"The state is spending about $400 million a year housing 2,000 kids," said Cortese. "Granted, they are very high risk and have higher criminal behavior than what we normally house locally. But we can house them."

Cortese said that even if the state gave a million dollars to each county for each one's share of the kids, the state would still end up saving $350 million.

He said he is concerned the state will "get greedy" and keep too much money for itself.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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