RIDGE GIVES LOCAL OFFICIALS HOPE ABOUT AID MORE ALLOCATIONS PLANNED.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

The federal homeland security head, Tom Ridge, met with state and local leaders in Los Angeles on Thursday and offered a glimmer of hope they might get some federal help for the biggest financial burden from their own security efforts - personnel and overtime costs.

Gov. Gray Davis, Sheriff Lee Baca and Mayor James Hahn joined with three Los Angeles County supervisors, a handful of congressional representatives, and police and fire chiefs, joined the secretary of U.S. Homeland Security at a round table and asked for more money to cover the millions they've spent securing the country's most populous state - and flexibility in how it's spent.

``The federal government needs to provide more money,'' Davis told reporters after a private meeting with Ridge. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the local and state governments have beefed up security of roads, airports, bridges, public events, utilities and the other possible terrorist targets out of their own pockets.

``We have spent about $750 million out of the same pot from which education, health care and transportation is funded,'' Davis said.

Much of the money spent by the states and cities, including Los Angeles, paid for personnel costs which Congress indicated cannot be covered by the federal security funds.

In a speech after the meeting, to a roomful of elected leaders and law enforcement dignitaries from across Southern California, Ridge said he appreciated how important cities are in the effort to thwart terrorism.

``We will not be able to secure the country from Washington, D.C,'' Ridge said. `` ... You can only secure the homeland if the hometowns are secure.''

Ridge made no specific commitments but said federal leaders are planning on allocating more money to disperse to local governments in the next fiscal year and beyond.

California has been allocated $45 million in federal funds to pay for security costs incurred so far, and received between $20 million and $30 million. But the state needs millions more, Davis said.

Davis said he's encouraged that the state and cities will get more money, as soon as this summer.

The mayor also expressed optimism.

``We were very encouraged by Secretary Ridge's remarks that he is very interested in having the maximum amount of flexibility for those funds coming to cities and counties or states,'' Hahn said. ``Initially, the funds were earmarked only for equipment and training, but I think there's a recognition that a lot of government agencies have dug deep in their pockets to pay for additional manpower hours.''

Los Angeles officials estimate the city spent about $100 million to meet all of its security needs since Sept. 11, most of it to pay for overtime of police and other emergency staff. It has yet to see any of the homeland security money. Earlier this month, the city was allocated an addition $12.4 million through an extra grant program just for urban areas, but it could be months before that money comes through.

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