County agencies draw up drastic budget-cut plans.

Closing all but one county hospital, closing nine sheriff substations and five jails, releasing 7,500 inmates and 3,700 mental patients, and laying off 25,000 people -- these are the sorts of options facing the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors if the state takes back $2.6 billion in property

Meanwhile, the county's department heads are hard at work on new budgets, due to the supervisors by June 15, that reflect a somewhat less onerous 16 percent general fund spending cut.

Last March, the supervisors were working on cutting 8 percent from the county's $13 billion budget to balance a projected deficit, but the prospect of the state cuts loomed ahead.

In preparation, the supervisors asked all their department heads to prepare two budgets -- one reflecting an 8 percent cut, and one that included cuts of 25 percent, which would be necessary if Wilson's plan were approved.

What the board got back was a blueprint for "pain beyond recognition," in the words of Supervisor Gloria Molina.

The department heads were recently sent back to work to prepare a "middle of the road" budget that reflected a 16 percent cut, said county spokeswoman Judy Hammond.

That budget is being prepared in the hope that if the state takes back the property tax revenue, it may also replace part of the money with revenue from the continuation of a half-cent sales tax.

The supervisors are scheduled to hold public hearings on their budget in late July and make a final decision by Aug. 9.

A few examples of department head scenarios for cutting 25 percent were:

* Sheriff's Department -- Close five jails, accepting into jails only the most serious felony offenders, releasing about 7,500 inmates guilty of low-risk felonies and misdemeanors; close nine substations; and eliminate two of five SWAT teams, as well as Operation Safe Streets, Gang Enforcement Teams, Emergency Services Detail, Mental Evaluation Team and the Youth Athletic League;

* Fire Department -- Eliminate 48 fire engine companies, 16 paramedic squads, seven truck companies, a hazardous materials squad and two helicopter squads;

* District Attorney's Office -- Stop prosecuting roughly 300,000 misdemeanor cases per year;

* Beaches and Harbors -- Eliminate lifeguard and beach maintenance services at 12 beaches;

* Health Services -- Close five hospitals, leaving open only County/USC Medical Center, which includes four facilities; close health centers;

* Mental Health -- Discharge up to 3,700 mental health clients, denying services to nearly 30,000 clients;

* Libraries -- Close 54 libraries and mobile units; reduce hours by 50 percent at remaining 34 facilities;

* Parks & Recreation -- Close 24 of 33 public pools; eliminate safety police at local parks;

* Museums -- Close the Museum of Art on Monday through Friday; close the Discovery Center and Insect Zoo at the Museum of Natural History; close the main facility at the Natural History Museum and the George C. Page Museum except on holidays and weekends and during the summer.

Cumulatively, it is estimated that the cuts would result in the layoffs of 25,000 employees, or 29 percent of the L.A. County workforce.

"The cuts we're making are those we have some discretion over," explained Hammond.

Some of the cuts seem ridiculously severe because they are being made only in the portions of the operating budget not controlled by state mandate or matching fund rules, she said.

One of the most talked-about proposed cuts has been the closing of county hospitals, since bureaucrats say it could lead to the complete collapse of the county's trauma emergency system.

If the county closes facilities, private hospitals likely will start closing their emergency rooms to avoid an influx of uninsured patients, which could bankrupt them, according to DHS staff.

DHS spokeswoman Toby Staheli said under the 16 percent budget cut scenario, several options would be possible.

They include closing County/USC General Hospital (one of four facilities at County/USC Medical Center) and leaving the other hospitals open.