Layoffs Loom as Super-Majority of County Supervisors Approve Secret Ballot Measure to Shift 10% of General Fund to Community Organizations
On August 4, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, on a vote of 4-1 with Supervisor Barger as the sole “no” vote, finalized the process of hastily placing an illegal measure on the November ballot to permanently shift 10 percent of the County’s unrestricted General Fund to “direct community investment” and “alternatives to incarceration,” phased in from 2021 to 2024. The measure is opposed by the California Association of Professional Emploees (CAPE), the Coalition of County Unions, and numerous stakeholders.
Although we strongly endorse the Supervisors’ efforts to provide additional assistance to disadvantaged communities and alternatives to incarceration, we strongly object to the Board’s process of approving a ballot measure that:
- Shamelessly goes around the State Legislature, which has clear budgeting authority over the County of Los Angeles; and
- Violates local and state laws – including the Board of Supervisors’ own Employee Relations Ordinance! – requiring that the County negotiate with impacted employee organizations before going to the voters to amend the County Charter.
L.A. County CEO Sachi Hamai confirmed to County Supervisors that this last-minute ballot measure would in turn mean having to lay off County employees. Moving this measure forward weakens long established workers’ rights and would potentially leave the working families who live in disadvantaged communities unemployed.
L.A. Labor is united in our opposition to this measure and is preparing both legal and political action. We will continue to keep you informed and let you know how you can get involved.
