Cuts could hit our communities

President Obama triumphed and Proposition 30 passed, but the looming federal fiscal cliff and California’s budget woes could result in drastic reductions in funding for public safety, social services, health care and transportation.

More political gridlock in Congress could be devastating for the economy and for people who rely upon government agencies in times of need. Indeed, the destruction caused by going over the fiscal cliff would impact residents at all income levels.

Alameda County could see declining federal funding for programs for seniors, assistance to needy families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other safety net programs.

For example, the substance abuse primary prevention programs run by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services could be affected by a $275 million nationwide cut.

A $92 million nationwide cut to the Community Oriented Policing Services grants could affect Alameda County. That funding pays for 50 percent of the sheriff’s bulletproof vests and partially funds 15 community policing deputies.

Even though Proposition 30 passed, California faces a fiscal year-end deficit of about $3.6 billion, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Much of this shortfall is due to inaccurate revenue projections and budget solutions that were not fully implemented or have been held up in court.

In this climate of federal and state funding rollbacks, local elected officials are working with their hands tied behind their backs as they fight to maintain essential operations and, under the governor’s realignment plan, take on additional operations such as jailing inmates who previously would have gone to state prison.

Americans have shown they agree with President Obama’s policies. Now Congress must acknowledge the voters’ vision and work cooperatively with the president to achieve a reasonable compromise to reduce the deficit without decimating safety net services that residents depend on.