Not good news for anyone..

Orange County officials on Wednesday unveiled a series of steep cuts at the Social Services Agency that are aimed at quickly trimming $30 million in salary and services out of this fiscal year's budget.
Budget negotiators informed labor leaders that all 4,218 workers at the Social Services Agency will each be required to take up to 80 hours of unpaid leave over the next six months. In addition, 210 jobs must be cut, as well as 193 vacant positions.
County officials are concerned that the unions will seek a court injunction to stop the mandatory furloughs. But county managers have warned that if labor fights that option, then 625 jobs will be eliminated by Feb. 1.
"It's not a threat, it's a reality," county CEO Tom Mauk said. He said the job cuts have to be implemented quickly because of a decline in state revenues that fund such programs.
According to budget managers, the job cuts should save about $10 million from the current budget. An additional $20 million in service reductions are being considered within the Social Services Agency.
"Ice cold" is how Nick Berardino, head of the Orange County Employees Association – the county's largest union - described the cuts and how they are being handled. "It's heartbreaking," he said, noting that tears were flowing at the union offices. "I can't sleep at night."
Berardino said he plans to press county managers and elected supervisors to feel as much pain as the rank and file.
"There needs to be total oversight and we need to look at every remodel, every new piece of furniture, every trip and meal that has been paid for the last 18 months," he said.
Berardino said he's pressing to have executive management car allowances eliminated, along with calling on all department heads, managers and elected officials to pay for their own pensions. He also wants 401-k plans that are offered to elected officials and managers to be eliminated and is calling on managers to forgo a 5 percent raise planned for early next year.
Mauk said the union will likely find a friendly ear on those suggestions.
"Managers need to step up and show leadership by immediately forgoing any raises at all. And I'm in the process of talking to them right now," Mauk said.
But even implementing all those changes won't make a dent in the shortages expected.
"If you took all of those, do you think they would total $86 million?" Mauk said.
The answer: Not even close.
Mauk is referring to an expected $86 million dip in local revenue during the next fiscal year.
He added that the pain from the state shortfall won't be short-lived. Within the next week, expect to hear plans for similar cuts at the Health Care Agency and Probation.
"The state's budget is in a freefall," said Supervisor Chris Norby. "And these positions are largely funded through the state. If the state doesn't give us the money, it isn't there."
Responding to labor's concerns about the cuts, Norby added, "denial is not a strategy."
Supervisor's Chairman John Moorlach also noted that the cuts currently being seen at the county are simply a reflection of what's happening to the rest of the community and nation.
"The private sector has already made tons of adjustments because of revenue," he said. "Now it's our turn."

I got an e-mail the other day from the lady at Bridge Builders who scheduled all the free, recommended but voluntary classes that they offer to foster to adopt (and adoptive) parents. She said that they will no longer be offering these classes because the funding isn't there to pay for them. My DH and I have taken a couple of these classes and they are (were) a great recourse. It's a shame. From my understanding Social Services is doing everything they can NOT to remove children from their homes, because there is no money to support them once they are in care. This means there are less children waiting for placements, but not because there is less neglect and abuse, it's because they are not removing them from those situations.