Given the financial state of the state, San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gary Ovitt is in opposition to any attempt by the State of California to impose unfunded mandates. In a statement issued by Chairman Ovitt, he says: “In these uncertain financial times when all scenarios are being reviewed regarding our current budget situation, it is important to keep our financial house in order and our wits about us. It doesn’t help when the State of California can’t get its act together and worse when the fallout from their ineptitude affects our county adversely. Welfare programs are mandated by the state. The state receives money from the federal government and collects taxes from the public to pay for these programs. The county does not have a funding stream to pay for welfare programs, therefore the county cannot and will not fund these state programs with dollars the county needs to pay for vital public safety and public service programs. If the state expects the county to pay for these programs, we would ask that the state provide a full accounting of what it has done with the federal money it has received for welfare programs, and on what they have spent the tax dollars they have collected for welfare. The county does not look forward to telling our needy, who need help now more than ever, that the state has not provided the funds they need. If the state continues with their current direction, the county will have no other choice. The county will explore whether other avenues of aid are available, but the county will not destroy local public safety programs or dismantle its financial house as part of an effort to cover up the state’s mismanagement of the public’s resources.”
