Facing an unprecedented budget deficit, Alameda County officials discussed proposed cuts to public protection and health and human services in a series of hearings this week.

In order to balance the county's $2.4 billion budget, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors expects to cut $117.6 million in county services and will vote on the county budget Thursday.

"The tragedy of the budget conversation is it doesn't describe the reality of it," said County Supervisor Gail Steele. "The real bottom line is nothing good is going to happen."

While some county officials said they tried to spread the cuts evenly, others said the proposed budget would disproportionately affect public safety with a $40 million cut to the public protection sector.

"The immediate problem with this budget is the public safety aspect," said County Supervisor Nate Miley. "The health and human services will become our second problem in a couple months when the state has finished screwing us."

During the hearing Tuesday, Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said the cuts to the sector will eliminate 101 full-time positions.

He added that the impacts of the cuts will include delays in response time to non-priority calls, delays in inmate transportation between court and county jail, reduced visiting hours at Santa Rita Jail and reduced laundry services.

The cuts will also reduce 49 positions in the Alameda County Probation Department, 15 in the county's Public Defender's Office and 14 in the District Attorney's Office.

Along with cuts to public protection, the public health sector faces a proposed $30 million funding reduction.

"It will take longer for a doctor to see patients, even in emergency rooms," said Keith Carson, county supervisor and chair of the county's Budget Committee.

With the public assistance sector facing a $45 million cut, he said the homeless will be more likely to go without food or shelter.

During the final deliberations meeting Wednesday, county officials proposed allocating $6.5 million from the county's general reserve and contingency funds to a budget-balancing fund that could help save county jobs.

But at the meeting, officials warned that additional service cuts may have to be revisited as the state budget is finalized.

"There are further cuts on the horizon," said County Administrator Susan Muranishi during the meeting.

Carson said the state budget could cut an additional $227 million from Alameda County's budget, including $30 million in health care, $105 million in public assistance, $15 million in public protection and $27 million in general government.

Miley called the state budget "the second shoe to drop" on Alameda County.

To balance further cuts, county officials have considered releasing state prison inmates early and cutting In-Home Supportive Services, which provides support for senior citizens and blind and disabled individuals.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed revision to the state budget could also require the state to borrow another $42 million from the county, deepening the cuts to its budget, Carson said.

"They are dumping the state's problem on the back of the county," he said.

Tags: ALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS