LA County Board

8. Meeting Probation’s Emergency with a New Approach to Budgeting Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Horvath: Direct the Chief Executive Officer, in collaboration with the Chief Probation Officer, to report back to the Board in 120 days with a detailed analysis of Probation’s budget and a proposed strategy for realigning Probation’s budget to better reflect current operations and resources, and the implementation of the Board’s stated priorities, given population, organizational, and cost changes in recent years (“Budget Realignment Strategy”). The Budget Realignment Strategy should be consistent with the Board’s Youth Justice Reimagined, Care First, Jails Last, and girls and gender expansive youth decarceration visions, and should: Reflect a coherent strategy for realigning Probation’s budget to better reflect current operations and resources, given organizational and cost changes in recent years; Reference the alternative budget method, or approach the Chief Executive Officer believes should be used consistently as a guide or benchmark in the development of Probation’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-28 budget, to realign budget appropriation and funding to reflect Board priorities - including, but not limited to, classification consolidations, compliance with oversight entities and settlement agreements, structural budget gaps, supporting the transition of relevant services to the Department of Youth Development, and potential transition of other services to County partners, and describe how the Chief Executive Office will incorporate this strategy into the development of the 2027 - 28 budget. The realignment of funding resources should also address efforts focused on reducing the incarceration of girls and gender expansive youth, maximizing opportunities for supportive services within and outside of custody, and transferring programming and other critical resources outside of the Probation Department where appropriate. The Budget Realignment Strategy and identified areas for realignment should be actionable and capable of being phased in beginning with the FY 2027-28 Recommended Budget. Direct the Chief Executive Officer as lead, and the Chief Probation Officer, to report back to the Board in 90 days with a framework for enhanced grant fund management and monitoring that will improve the transparency, monitoring, and decision-making processes related to grant funded programs managed by Probation, including, but not limited to, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Committee and Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grants, as well as those related to services for Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) youth such as SB 794 and SB 855 funds. The framework should consider the following: Development and implementation of a standardized reporting tool that provides timely updates on the status of budget programs including funding eligibility, comprehensive program descriptions, providers, funding allocations, expenditures, and remaining balances; Use of innovative tools, technologies, and consultant services that support the implementation of enhanced data collection and reporting capabilities inclusive of performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of fund utilization and the impact of funded programs; and Develop and deliver training to committees or advisory bodies supported by Probation, including review of standardized funding reports; quarterly meetings to discuss any necessary adjustments; and a mechanism for committee members to provide feedback to facilitate continuous improvement. Direct the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Probation Officer, in collaboration with the Executive Director of the Probation Oversight Commission and Countywide Communications, to develop a plan to engage with the public and represented employees to discuss recommended goals, targets and priorities for a proposed Budget Realignment Strategy for the Probation Department’s Recommended Budget for FY 2027-28. (26-3775) Motion by Supervisor Horvath (Updates Following Cluster)