The 2017-18 Budget: Analysis of the Human Services Budget

The 2017-18 Budget: Analysis of the Human Services Budget Translate Our Website This Google ™ translation feature provided on the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) website is for informational purposes only. The LAO is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool. Choose your language: × Skip to main content Home --> Policy Areas Capital Outlay, Infrastructure Criminal Justice Economy and Taxes Education Environment and Natural Resources Health and Human Services Local Government State Budget Condition Transportation Other Government Areas Publications The Budget Propositions and Initiatives Staff Careers About Us Search In this Report --> Browse the Analysis 1. Overview 2. CalWORKS 3. In-Home Supportive Services 4. SSI/SSP LAO Contacts Jackie Barocio In-Home Supportive Services SSI/SSP Ryan Woolsey CalWORKs Ginni Bella Navarre Overall Human Services Issues See More Publications Like This Back to the Top --> Tweet February 28, 2017 The 2017-18 Budget Analysis of the Human Services Budget In this set of budget posts, we provide an overview of the Governor's 2017-18 budget for human services programs. We also describe the budget proposal in detail for the In-Home Supportive Services , Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment , and CalWORKs programs. You can use the menu on the left to navigate to the individual posts. Overview Background on Human Services California s major human services programs provide a variety of benefits to its citizens. These include income maintenance for the aged, blind, or disabled; cash assistance and employment services for low-income families with children; protecting children from abuse and neglect; providing home care workers who assist the aged and disabled in remaining in their own homes; collection of child support from noncustodial parents; and subsidized child care for low-income families. Human services are administered at the state level by the Department of Social Services, Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Department of Child Support Services, and other California Health and Human Services Agency departments. The actual delivery of many services takes place at the local level and is typically carried out by 58 separate county welfare departments. A major exception is the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), which is administered mainly by the U.S. Social Security Administration. In the case of DDS, community-based services (the type of services received by the vast majority of DDS consumers) are coordinated through 21 nonprofit organizations known as regional centers. Expenditure Proposal by Major Programs Overview of the Human Services Budget Proposal. The Governor s budget proposes expenditures of $12.7 billion from the General Fund for human services programs in 2017 18. As shown in Figure 1, this reflects a net decrease of $ 356 million or 2.7 percent below estimated General Fund expenditures in 2016 17. The budget reflects modest year-over-year changes in the General Fund budget for some departments and programs, while reflecting more significant changes for others, including the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and the non-realigned children s programs. In general, the more significant year-over-year changes in General Fund support for these programs are in part due to various funding shifts that have occurred over the last several years. These funding shifts result in General Fund increases and decreases that are not necessarily representative of broader trends in caseloads and services costs in these programs. Figure 1 Major Human Services Programs and Departments—Budget Summary General Fund (Dollars in Millions) 2016-17 Estimated 2017-18 Proposed 2016-17 to 2017-18 Amount Percent SSI/SSP $2,829.4 $2,884.7 $55.2 2.0% Department of Developmental Services 4,001.2 4,207.0 205.8 5.1 CalWORKs 682.1 449.9 -232.3 -34.1 In-Home Supportive Services 3,528.7 3,153.8 -374.8 -10.6 County Administration and Automation 819.0 800.6 -18.3 -2.2 Non-realigned children’s programs a 332.2 408.6 76.4 23.0 Department of Child Support Services 314.4 314.1 -0.3 -0.1 Department of Rehabilitation 61.5 61.5 0.1 0.1 Department of Aging 35.8 33.8 -2.0 -5.6 All other human services (including state support) 443.7 378.4 -65.3 -14.7 Totals $13,047.9 $12,692.4 -$355.5 -2.7% a This includes, among other programs, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, Approved Relative Caregiver Program, and funding for the Continuum of Care Reform efforts. A Closer Look at Total Human Services Funding. For those programs that are demonstrating more significant General Fund increases or decreases, taking a closer look at the total funding proposed for their support provides a clearer picture of their overall growth or decline. As shown in Figure 2, after accounting for total funding from all sources, growth or decline in these programs is relatively modest. Figure 2 Major Human Services Programs and Departments—Budget Summary Total Funds (Dollars in Millions) 2016-17 Estimated 2017-18 Proposed Change From 2016-17 to 2017-18 Amount Percent SSI/SSP $9,998.7 $10,198.4 $199.6 2.0% Department of Developmental Services 6,684.0 6,925.4 241.4 3.6 CalWORKs 5,203.0 5,076.0 -127.0 -2.4 In-Home Supportive Services 9,960.0 10,623.0 663.0 6.7 County Administration and Automation 2,421.1 2,333.9 -87.2 -3.6 Nonrealigned children’s programs a 5,982.7 6,197.3 214.6 3.6 Department of Child Support Services 1,006.0 1,006.5 0.4 — Department of Rehabilitation 446.6 446.7 — — Department of Aging 204.7 200.6 -4.0 -2.0 a This includes, among other programs, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, Approved Relative Caregiver Program, and funding for the Continuum of Care Reform efforts. Governor s Budget Largely Reflective of Current Law and Policy . . . Our analysis of the Governor s human services budget proposals indicates that it is largely in line with the implementation of current law and policy. For example, the proposal adjusts for increases and decreases related to changes in program caseloads and the continued implementation of existing policy changes such as the implementation of minimum wage increases in certain programs. . . . With a Few Major Exceptions. Although the Governor s 2017 18 budget is largely related to the implementation of current law, there are a few exceptions to note. Specifically, the Governor s budget includes the elimination of $45 million in one-time funding for a Housing and Disability Advocacy program in SSI/SSP and the termination of the Coordinated Care Initiative, which has significant fiscal implications for the IHSS program. We will discuss the Governor s termination of the Coordinated Care Initiative and fiscal implications for IHSS in depth in a forthcoming report. For more detailed information on the Governor s budget proposals for SSI/SSP, IHSS, and CalWORKs, please click on the links below. Next → Subscribe | California State Legislature | Online Voter Registration | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Legislative Analyst's Office | The California Legislature's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor 925 L Street, Suite 1000 Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 445-4656