COUNTY BUDGET CUTS AVERTED.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

Flush with an unexpected $45 million in extra property tax revenues, Los Angeles County supervisors gave final approval Monday to a $17.2 billion budget that keeps parks and libraries open and boosts the sheriff's budget by $7.5 million.

The budget is dramatically different from the one proposed in April that called for closing dozens of parks, libraries and probation camps, and laying off several thousand county employees.

``A lot of that was theatrics,'' Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said, alluding to earlier predictions of financial upheaval. ``The governor was able to resolve many of our fiscal issues. He's committed to getting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to guarantee local government services are not cut.''

The supervisors voted 4-1 to approve the budget. Antonovich, who voted against it, said he was disappointed that his fellow supervisors didn't approve his motion to restore $1 million in funding for a program that targets felons with guns.

A recent survey found that 60 percent of the people on probation in the county possess weapons. Since February 2000, the program has resulted in 2,900 arrests, the seizures of 1,200 weapons, and confiscations of $6 million in illegal drugs and cash.

But following a recent drowning, the supervisors did approve Antonovich's motion to spend $735,000 to boost the number of lifeguards at Castaic Lake from two to 15 for next fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Lee Baca was relieved that he would not have to lay off up to 1,000 deputies and make further cuts in law enforcement services.

The Sheriff's Department faced a $35 million operating deficit in the fiscal year beginning July 1, created mainly by a large drop in federal reimbursements for jailing undocumented criminals and by rising workers' compensation costs and health benefits for retirees.

The supervisors not only restored the $35 million, but boosted Baca's budget by $7.5 million, on the condition that Baca match that with $2.5 million from the Inmate Welfare Fund to improve the safety of jail inmates.

``Five inmate homicides occurred this year within the county jail system,'' Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said. ``I think the jail system is a much more complicated problem than just money. It may be confidence in management, but it also involves some funding.''

Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said an ongoing investigation into the jail deaths is looking at whether better management is needed for the jails.

The sheriff needs more people, Whitmore said. ``He needs more resources. He's looking right now at implementing new systems that will be recommended by the Office of Independent Review. Those procedures and policies are in the final stages of being written.''

Supervisor Gloria Molina asked for a report from Baca on what his plan is to address problems in the jails.

``I'd like to see an effort to eliminate pruno (an alcoholic beverage made from fruit) from our jails since that has led to so many problems,'' Molina said. ``I'd also like to find out whether video cameras will be purchased to help monitor inmates in their cells, or interactions between inmates and deputies.''

The budget also restores $2.5 million in proposed cuts to the District Attorney's Office.

The approved budget does cut about $30 million in mental health services to uninsured people.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com