A statewide gun rights group is gearing up to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against Santa Clara County over price hikes for concealed carry weapons licenses.

Santa Clara County officials say critical safety-net services could abruptly end as early as next month, as congressional lawmakers prepare to vote on a plan to trim trillions in spending over the next decade — and cut off billions of federal dollars flowing west to Silicon Valley.

Santa Clara County wants to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to addressing community violence. To accomplish this, county leaders plan to spend millions of dollars on a new initiative.

A new federal audit says the Santa Clara County Office of Education misused more than $135,370 in federal funds under the previous superintendent. But county leaders disagree on whether the error was an intentional cover-up or a simple mistake, another sign of deepening division and tension in an office plagued by controversy.

Budget cuts are threatening vital services in Santa Clara County — including an outreach program that brought legal aid to people living in homeless encampments.