Furloughs are delaying federally-funded programs for disabled and unemployed Californians, according to a report released this afternoon by the Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes.
The report looks at the impact of furloughs on the Disability Determination Service Division of the Department of Social Services, the Unemployment Insurance Branch of the Employment Development Department and the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.
The authors conclude that furloughs are slowing down backlogged programs already struggling under the weight of increased demand for services.
From the executive summary:
Furthermore, the three-day-per-month furloughs imposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this year saved no money for the state budget when applied to these federally funded long-term disability and unemployment programs.
The furloughs have, however, significantly reduced how much time the average state
worker spends on the job helping to distribute these federal benefits - at a time when
demand for the cash assistance has soared.
The Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes was established by Sen. Darrell Steinberg , who has objected to furloughs. The office says it produces information independent of partisan political influence.
In November the Oversight Office produced a report on furloughs' impact on the DMV. That followed an October analysis of how furloughs have affected 24/7 facilities.
You can read today's 25-page report by clicking here.
IMAGE: www3.senate.ca.gov
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