A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has once again thrown out the county’s case against Orange County deputy sheriffs seeking to roll back a portion of their pension enhancement, referred to as “three at 50.”

Last month, county officials amended their original complaint against the deputy sheriffs after Judge Helen Bendix threw out the majority of their case. She allowed county officials to restate one claim if they could prove that the annual payments for the retirement benefit were making it impossible to meet bills.

After a series of closed session meetings, supervisors finally amended their argument but ignored Bendix’s instructions and instead restated their argument that the retroactive benefit violated the state constitution’s debt limits because it granted benefits that were not earned.

Apparently, Bendix wasn’t convinced. The question now facing supervisors is whether they continue their effort and appeal her decision to a higher court.

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Get ready for the mother of all budget cycles, one that hasn’t been seen by insiders since the dark days of the 1994 Orange County bankruptcy.

Just a day before voters decide the fate of six different budget-related propositions on Tuesday, local budget officials are tensely preparing for this summer’s annual public budget debate.

Note that this is a county budget that is actually smaller than it was last year, contracting by more than $1 billion. The proposed 2009-2010 budget now hovers at the $5.5 billion mark.

The county’s half-cent sales tax that funds public safety is down 10 percent and internal reserves are running out.

And with more than $100 million in budget cuts aimed at public safety, this is one debate that will likely get ugly. And fast.

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