The Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday indicated its support for much of the proposed $6.1 billion budget, but with a few tweaks for public safety improvements despite some concerns about an anticipated decline in taxes to fund law enforcement.
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas wanted 35 new positions, but the board would only go along with a recommendation to add 16 for now with $1.9 million set aside to pay for them. The board is expected to consider final approval of the annual fiscal year 2016-17 budget on June 28, but the supervisors may make changes throughout the year.
Officials are concerned about a potential shortfall in Prop. 172 revenue, which is earmarked for public safety.
Part of what’s fueling the added expenses is putting cameras on the uniforms of law enforcement, which will require more personnel to view and analyze the evidence. The new units will have a $341,000 budget.
Interim Public Defender Sharon Petrosino sounded the alarm from her department on the growing expenses related to the body-armor cameras. Her department also has been struggling with increasing expenses mandated by a new state law that requires defendants entering plea deals to understand their immigration rights.
The nonprofit the public defender has contracted with has been overwhelmed with the work load and recently handed Petrosino’s department a $5,300 monthly bill.
The public defender has also received a tsunami of evidence from prosecutors related to the ongoing jailhouse informant program issue in which defense attorneys have complained their clients have had their constitutional rights violated by not knowing more about snitches testifying against them before trial, Petrosino said.
The supervisors also signaled support for setting aside $549,164 for the new ethics commission approved by voters last week that will enforce campaign finance laws. Supervisor Michelle Steel was the lone no vote, citing the expense.
The supervisors asked Orange County Chief Executive Officer Frank Kim to give them some options on the staffing of the commission before they get into any more detail on the funding of the new commission.
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens convinced the supervisors to let her start a new cybercrime unit, with two new investigators dedicated to Internet fraud, identity theft and other cybercrime issues.
“This is so important,” Hutchens said. “Cybercrime has become such a major issue impacting our businesses and individuals. Many, many crimes traditionally performed out in the public are now being performed on computers in silence.”
The sheriff was also given extra money to cover four additional patrol deputies for the new Rancho Mission Viejo development in an unincorporated area of Mission Viejo.
The county has also acquired property in Anaheim for a full-service facility to serve the homeless, which is scheduled to open in the coming fiscal year.
Money has also been set aside for a new animal shelter on 10 acres at the former Tustin Marine Corps base. Construction on the facility is set for this summer. The old shelter in Tustin has come under criticism in recent years from Orange County grand jury reports and animal activists.
Budget officials also have left room for a $25 million payment to the state, which is part of a settlement of a tax dispute. It is the third of five payments that will total $150 million to settle a lawsuit over the distribution of vehicle license fees.
–City News Service