I haven't been following this story, but, from "Baca says Measure A still needed":

Sheriff Lee Baca said Wednesday he was surprised to learn that Los Angeles County government suddenly found a $309 million surplus, but he still urged voters to pass Measure A, a sales tax increase on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Baca, at a news conference with Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton and Mayor James Hahn, said most of the surplus cannot be spent for ongoing costs of hiring more deputies.

If approved by two-thirds of voters countywide, Measure A would raise $560 million a year for law enforcement, anti-terrorism and other public safety needs. Officials have promised to use the money to hire 5,000 more officers...