The effects of Proposition 13 on social services for senior citizens in Los Angeles County

This study was conducted to determine the effects of Proposition l3 on social services for senior citizens in Los Angeles County. Proposition 13 was a constitutional amendment enacted in June 1978, by the voters of California. . This measure reduced property tax revenues received by the local and state governments of California. There was public concern that such a reduction in revenues would result in a reduction of services provided by local governments to citizens. Therefore, focusing on senior citizens as a target group for research, this study investigated the effects of Proposition 13 on social services at the local level of government.

The methodology of this study consisted of two components. One component was a literature review conducted to collect data on existing studies in the development of a framework for this research. The second component consisted of personal interviews with twentyone selected agencies in Los Angeles County. The agencies interviewed provided social services to senior citizens under the direction of the following entities: Los Angeles County government, the governments of incorporated cities within Los Angeles County, and community-based organizations within Los Angeles County.

The major findings of the research were that one year following the passage of Proposition 13 there was a decline in growth rate of the social service budgets and the number of clients served by the agencies interviewed. Furthermore, a trend indicating decline of such services as recreation, advocacy, and outreach was established.

This study identifies the beginning signs of declining social services for senior citizens in Los Angeles County. Future research on the effects of Proposition 13 should concentrate on the levels of social services, the types of social services, and the number of clients receiving social services.