By Clyde Noel

Kniss

Santa Clara County could face a $240 million deficit this fiscal year, according to budget projections, Supervisor Liz Kniss told Los Altos residents last week.

“The pie is getting smaller and smaller for the cities,” Kniss said. “Out of the 8.25 percent sales tax, only 1 percent comes back to the city and 1 percent to the county. What we need is more local control.”

Kniss referred to the county as a health and human resources agency where public assistance checks are dispensed by the county, not the state.

The county budget comes from three sources: 40 percent from local taxes, 40 percent from state taxes and 20 percent from federal taxes.

General fund expenditures for our county’s welfare, public health, safety and other services amount to $2 billion a year. Other expenses for specific items come under ‘Enterprise Funds’ and add up to another $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion.”

The county is facing the same difficulties as each city in the county.

“We complain about Proposition 13, but the money is controlled by Sacramento,” Kniss said. “Only about 10 percent comes back to the county and the cities.”

Of what is returned to local governments, 60 percent is allocated for schools, another 21 percent to cities and counties, 6 percent to community colleges and the balance to special districts such as flood districts.

Kniss connected the abstract county budget directly to community usage.

She said after local police book a suspect, any medical and dental needs are taken care of at county expense. Hospital care can exceed $1,000 a day, and psychiatric treatment can cost $8,000 to $10,000. More than 4,000 people are incarcerated in county jails each year.