Shasta County is considering cutting some state-mandated social services due to a severe shortage in the social services fund. The Shasta County Board of Supervisors discussed the idea last month, but did not take any action. The state of California has warned that cutting these services could lead to legal action.

State-Mandated Programs

State-mandated programs include essential services such as CalFresh, which provides food benefits to low-income individuals and families, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), which provides home-based assistance to eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals. The county also has other state-mandated services, including CalWorks and housing programs.

The California Department of Social Services has stated that it is authorized to take legal action to ensure that counties fulfill their required duties. Theresa Mier, a spokesperson for the department, said that state law empowers her agency to use the courts to ensure compliance with mandated programs.

Consequences of Cutting Services

Cutting state-mandated social services could have significant consequences for the county. Lauren Hansen, an attorney for the Public Interest Law Project, said that equal access to public benefits should not depend on a person’s ZIP code. She hopes that the state will follow through on its threat to take legal action if the county cuts mandatory programs.

Donnell Ewert, the former director of the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, said that cutting mandated programs is not a reliable strategy for financial stability. Instead, he believes that the county should focus on advocating for more funding from the state.

Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.