County welfare numbers rise

As the number of people seeking welfare benefits from Los Angeles County is expected to soar this year, the Board of Supervisors will vote today on spending an additional $155 million to meet the rising demand and other needs. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

The supplemental budget, funds that were left over from last fiscal year, calls for an extra: $14 million in general-relief checks; $12 million for homeless programs; $44 million for child welfare; and $6million to buy radios for District Attorney's Office investigators.

County Chief Executive Officer Bill Fujioka said the general-relief caseload is increasing by nearly 20 percent a year. General relief offers $221 monthly checks to low-income households.