Posted on 02/25/2005 9:06:37 AM PST by NormsRevenge
California's efforts to bolster its homeland security are uncoordinated and piecemeal, and the agencies in charge are falling behind in using hundreds of millions of dollars in federal anti-terrorism grants, according to an assessment by the Legislative Analyst's Office released Thursday.
The analysis found that the state Office of Homeland Security and Department of Health Services have spent only 31 percent of the $869.3 million in federal funds given to the state over the past five years to defend against potential terrorist attacks.
The assessment raises uncomfortable questions about the state's vulnerability to attack.
"The implication is that we have wasted an opportunity here with federal dollars to be prepared," said Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate, a freshman lawmaker who is pressing for reform.
The slow spending is worrisome because money that sits unspent may be forfeited, said Celia Pedroza, a fiscal and policy analyst who contributed to the report.
"We don't want to lose any money, especially not on something this important," Pedroza said.
Furthermore, the agencies in charge of protecting the state against biological and general terrorist activity don't seem to be working together.
"Both OHS and DHS report that they are currently developing homeland security plans," the report states. "At the time this analysis was prepared, it appeared that these plans would be developed independently of one another.
Consequently, it is doubtful that their plans will result in a comprehensive look at the state's homeland security."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Here's a link to the section of the report dealing with HS:
http://www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2005/general_govt/gen_02_cc_homeland_security.htm#_Toc96089410
Amazing that they can't get their arms around the most basic things.
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