San Diego Supervisors Approve Plan to Notify Residents of Benefit Cuts

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has voted 4-1 to develop a notification system aimed at informing residents about potential risks to their benefits resulting from recent federal budget cuts. The decision came during a meeting on Tuesday, where Chair Terra Lawson-Remer highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating the county faces “a massive, massive crisis” that could affect hundreds of thousands of residents reliant on healthcare and food assistance.

The proposed notification system will utilize texts, calls, emails, and local outreach partners to keep affected families informed and connected to available resources. This initiative builds on previous actions taken by the board, including a joint request from Lawson-Remer and Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe for staff to begin planning in response to the recent passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1). This act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2023, after being approved by the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on a largely party-line vote.

Impact of Federal Budget Cuts

During the meeting, Lawson-Remer expressed concern over the potential ramifications of H.R. 1, which, according to a county staff analysis, would cut more than $200 million annually from food assistance programs. This reduction is expected to impact over 400,000 San Diegans, including 130,000 children and nearly 100,000 seniors. The cuts may force the county to hire up to 727 additional full-time employees at a cost of up to $63 million per year to meet new Medi-Cal application requirements.

Additionally, the legislation could necessitate hiring up to 426 more county employees at a cost of $28 million annually to manage increased CalFresh requirements and prevent processing backlogs. The proposed changes also include new work requirements for over 327,000 Medi-Cal recipients, which could jeopardize access to essential healthcare services.

The analysis indicates that the budget cuts will likely lead to an increase in the number of uninsured individuals, raise uncompensated care costs for local hospitals, and ultimately result in more frequent emergency room visits due to diminished preventative care.

Future Steps and Opposition

Lawson-Remer noted that the notification system is part of a broader “federal fallout readiness plan,” which aims to enhance processing capabilities for Medi-Cal and CalFresh, reform outdated reserve policies, and secure funding for essential services. Chief Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton is expected to provide a timeline for implementing the notification system later this year.

Supervisor Jim Desmond was the only dissenting vote against the proposal, arguing that while the intention is commendable, the county must prioritize fiscal responsibility given the federal debt crisis and California’s projected revenue gap of $10 billion to $20 billion. He emphasized the need to safeguard programs like CalFresh for future generations while ensuring that only those in genuine need receive assistance.

Critics of the federal cuts, including Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, have expressed gratitude for the board’s proactive measures. Aguirre stated that many families she has spoken with are “terrified” of losing critical services such as in-home care, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

As San Diego prepares to implement this notification system, the Board of Supervisors aims to ensure that residents are equipped with the necessary information and support to navigate the challenges posed by these federal budget changes.