The Rose Institute of State and Local Government has released, "Comparing San Diego Services: A Twelve-County Analysis," that analyzes San Diego County's spending and services in four categories: public protection, welfare, mental health, and other public assistance.
The study ranks San Diego against the 11 largest counties in California: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Fresno, Ventura, and San Francisco. When considering public protection, information including caseloads, expenditures, and administrative staffing were examined. In this area, the County provided more resources, and the prosecutor and public defender offices carried fewer caseloads.
For welfare, eligibility estimates for Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, CalWORKs, and the Supplementary Security Income program were devised, and estimates compared to enrollment data. Funding data and application denials were examined and also factored into the data. San Diego showed a pattern of lower spending on and higher denial rates for welfare programs than comparable California counties.
In the area of public assistance, the report examines information from In-Home Supportive Services, Adult Protective Services, and Child Welfare Services. In this category, San Diego County showed low funding to consumers, low hourly wages for services providers, and the longest median time to adopt; children in San Diego County spend more time in foster care than any of the comparable California counties.
"Building on the Institute's experience with data from the Census and local governments, the student researchers were able to calculate solid numbers in a field where previously there were none," said Rose Institute Fellow Douglas Johnson '92.
"The students' work will shape and inform the County's debate throughout the year ahead, Institute associate director Ken Miller added. "This cooperation between the Rose Institute and Voice of San Diego was an excellent experience for both organizations. We are always on the lookout for the opportunity to put our students at the center of such innovative and cutting-edge research projects, and we appreciate the Girard Foundation's support for this partnership."