NCJ Number
55204
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 47-51
Date Published
1979
Length
3 pages
Annotation
EFFECTS ON PROBATION PROGRAMS OF CUTS IN COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES UNDER PROPOSITION 13 IN CALIFORNIA ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
PROPOSITION 13 EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATES 57 PERCENT ($7 BILLION) OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE. THE STATE GOVERNMENT USED ITS $5 BILLION IN SURPLUS REVENUE TO SAVE POLICE, FIRE, AND SCHOOL AGENCIES, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY, FROM MASSIVE LAYOFFS AND REDUCTIONS IN THEIR OPERATIONS. ALMOST ALL OTHER COUNTY AND CITY AGENCIES, HOWEVER, WERE FORCED TO BEGIN CUTTING AND IN SOME COUNTIES, THE PROGRAMS AND FUNDS OF LOCAL CORRECTIONS AGENCIES WERE CONSIDERED THE MOST EXPENDABLE. THE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, NOT RECEIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE SURPLUS AS DID LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO FEEL THE FIRST REVERBERATIONS OF THE TAX REVOLT. ALTHOUGH ONLY A HANDFUL OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY HAVE TERMINATED EMPLOYEES, HIRING FREEZES AND THE ELIMINATION OF HUNDREDS OF VACANT POSITIONS HAVE SWELLED CASELOADS AND UNDERMINED MORALE. NEARLY ALL OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS HAVE SCRAPPED SOME PROGRAMS NOT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, AND SOME HAVE SUSPENDED CONSTRUCTION PLANS AS WELL. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE COMING YEARS WILL BE EVEN MORE GLOOMY FOR PROBATION DEPARTMENTS AS THE SURPLUS SUPPORTING POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL ARE DRAINED AND COMPETITION FOR LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES WILL INCREASE. PROBATION IS EXPECTED TO SUFFER IN THE COMPETITION FOR FUNDING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTENCY OR VISIBILITY OF POLICE AND FIREMEN. SOME PROBATION OFFICIALS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SEE THE EFFECTS OF PROPOSITION 13 AS BEING ALL BAD. IT HAS NECESSITATED GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN COST EFFECTIVENESS DECISIONS WHICH LEADS TO THE ELIMINATION OF PROGRAMS THAT CANNOT PROVE THEMSELVES COST BENEFICIAL. SINCE PROPOSITION 13 PROBATION PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY RESEARCH HAS INCREASED IN SOME COUNTIES. STILL, PROBATION OFFICIALS FORECAST AN INCREASED COMMITMENT OF OFFENDERS TO STATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF FUNDING FOR LOCAL PROBATION AND CORRECTIONS SERVICES. THE TAXPAYER WILL BE HURT IN THE LONG-RUN, BECAUSE STATE TAXES WILL THEN INCREASE IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE NEEDED EXPANSION OF STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. (RCB)