Statement by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

On Sheriff’s Budget Proposal

May 30, 2002

I am pleased that the Sheriff has decided to postpone the release of prisoners or those being held on bail pending trial until July 1. However, whether it’s June 1st or July 1st, early release of people being held is a bad idea.

The Sheriff Department’s budget has been increased in next year’s budget by $21 million---to well over $1.6 billion. The problem in the Sheriff’s budget is not under funding; it’s overspending. This is the second consecutive year in which the Sheriff has overspent what was allocated to his department. Last year he overspent by more than $80 million, and this year he is on course to overspend by another $40 million or more.

There is no budgetary problem in the Sheriff’s Department that prudent and intelligent fiscal management can’t solve. That’s what we’re asking the Sheriff to do. Work with us to better manage his Department and its budget.

This is not a time for political gamesmanship. It’s a time for teamwork and sacrifice. In the case of the Sheriff, we’re asking for very little sacrifice. We’re only asking for a reduced wish list at a time when much of County Government faces severe cuts and thousands of layoffs. Public safety should not be held hostage to a County department’s wish list.

We call on the Sheriff to work with our County Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors to solve the chronic overspending problem in his department and to help the County team weather the difficult economic times ahead.