Supervisors to Meet With State Officials : Budget: The five board members plan to offer unified front in opposing shift of property tax revenue. County faces a drastic cut in staff and services.

In a rare display of unity to dramatize Los Angeles County’s budget plight, the Board of Supervisors has canceled today’s board meeting to allow all five members to travel to Sacramento for discussions with Gov. Pete Wilson and key state legislators.

The board members say they will express their opposition to a variety of Wilson budget proposals--including a plan to shift $2.6 billion in property tax revenue from local governments to the state--when they meet with the governor this morning.

“It’s important that the board is united in this effort,” said Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “It’s important that all 58 counties are united. It’s important that we move forward and speak with one voice.”

The county is facing a projected $1.4-billion deficit in fiscal year 1993-94. Chief Administrative Officer Harry Hufford is scheduled to release a draft budget this week that will include a 16% across-the-board cut in services. The fiscal year begins July 1.

County officials have drafted plans to close sheriff’s and fire stations, jails, hospitals, mental health clinics and libraries. The welfare department also could see deep cuts and Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti has said his office may stop prosecuting misdemeanors and other crimes.

As many as 20,000 of the county’s 80,000 employees could be laid off, officials said.

“We hope we can convince the governor and the Legislature that they need to restore that $2.6 billion” in property tax revenue, said Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke. “This is a serious crisis. Everyone agrees that we have to preserve basic human services and public safety.”

Wilson has said the property tax shift is necessary to balance the state budget and to fund public schools. In recent weeks, the governor has been under increasing pressure from law enforcement groups and business leaders to reverse his position.

“The fact that the governor cleared a significant amount of time on his schedule to see (the supervisors) indicates how serious he takes the problem they face,” said Dan Schnur, a spokesman for the governor.

The supervisors’ visit to the state capital comes as the Legislature enters a key phase in its budget deliberations. The state Constitution requires the Legislature to pass a budget by June 15 and the governor to sign it by July 1.

“They can ignore one or two supervisors,” said board Chairman Ed Edelman. “But when they see all five coming together in complete agreement . . . they have to listen.”

The supervisors also will meet today with Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys), Assembly Minority Leader Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) and Senate Minority Leader Ken Maddy (R-Fresno).

Edelman called for the Sacramento meetings Thursday, just hours after Wilson announced his latest budget plan.

Wilson proposed extending a half-cent statewide sales tax to fund local government, but he also wants to earmark that money for law enforcement and fire safety, excluding funding for county social programs.

Supervisor Gloria Molina will tell Wilson she opposes the plan, said her spokesman, Robert Alaniz.

“Where does the governor’s proposal leave the county in terms of providing health services for those in need?” Alaniz asked. “The board will try to express the hardships that L.A. County will suffer under these proposals.”

Antonovich also is critical of the plan to pay for law enforcement with sales taxes, saying it amounts to double taxation. Homeowners already pay for police and fire protection through property taxes, he said.

Today’s visit will be the first time the entire board has traveled to Sacramento since 1981, when Los Angeles County faced budget cuts in the wake of Proposition 13.