Bergeson Asks Audit Team Be Given a Chance; Others Question Fallout

I can’t help but think that your concerns (voiced in the editorial entitled “$450,000 Now?” on Feb. 24) about the county’s management audit fall into the category of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” Let me clear up a few facts that you seem to have missed.

The board has not authorized or budgeted any sum of money for the audit--instead, we set a dollar cap as a guide to those firms that submit Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Yes, we wanted to give them a ballpark figure--but we also want to be able to accept the lowest responsible bid (those who want to do it for free in the style of William J. Popejoy are more than encouraged to apply!). Further, we have already asked that the firms be creative in their proposals. For instance, they could propose using existing county staff under the firm’s supervision for much of their legwork. That will enable us to make the best use of both county knowledge and the selected firm’s private-sector experience.

Next, I’ll be the first to admit that the membership of the oversight committee does contain both “insiders” and outsiders (and some very qualified ones at that). The insiders are there to help the auditing firm ask the right questions, Who else but an insider knows where the county’s secrets are hiding? Who else knows what departments and agencies have a tradition of resisting outside audits and why? I like the idea of outsiders on the team too--that’s why more than 13 of the 20 members come from outside the county structure.

Will these probing questions and hundreds more actually be asked? They’re being asked already. Orange County residents can hear for themselves and add their own comments and criticisms--because the meetings of the oversight committee are completely open and public.

Give the audit team a chance, Times, to show that there’s a proven strategy behind this process. Knowledge-based criticism is always welcome and responded to--but casual barbs without the right research to back them up hurt us all.

MARIAN BERGESON

County supervisor

5th District

* One of the nation’s wealthiest counties is panhandling? Have we no pride at all? A small income tax would instantly solve our budget and credit problem with relatively little pain.

ALEXANDER M. MOOD

Irvine

* In view of Orange County’s bankruptcy, we county foster parents are concerned that government find ways to become more efficient and save money. However, we are horrified at the suggestion that the county downsize by asking the state to take over foster care licensing. This change would not save the county any money, according to Larry Leaman, director of Orange County Social Services.

Teamwork between foster parents and the county makes our foster care program accountable, efficient and responsive to the needs of foster parents and the abused children we serve. Foster parents help recruit, train and support new foster parents, thus saving money and staff hours. Sending foster care licensing to the state would disable this effective team.

In Riverside and Los Angeles counties there has been a significant decline in the number of foster parents since their licensing was given to the state. Foster parent discontent and decline in numbers is likely in our county also. This will lead to a further problem. More foster children will need to be placed with private foster family agencies or with group homes, which are even more expensive.

Downsizing doesn’t always save money. Quick fix risky investments got us into this crisis. Let’s not try another quick fix by sending foster care licensing to the state.

RUTH HANNING

Orange County foster parent

Yorba Linda

* It’s time to say the R-word--RECALL--as “antidote” to the T-word--TAXES. That is my position and reaction to The Times’ editorial (“It’s Time to Say the T-Word--Taxes,” March 1). If The Times’ editorial writer(s) think a tax increase is feasible or even possible in Orange County, I suggest he/she get out and talk with the overtaxed, over-regulated and overburdened citizens of Orange County. After more than 60 years, beginning with the Roosevelt Administration in 1933, of tax and tax, spend and spend, waste and waste, enough already! No more taxes, now and forevermore.

As for myself, although I have many, many things I would rather do than either lead or actively support recall of Jim Silva, “my” 2nd District supervisor, if he votes for a tax increase after having argued he is a tax cutter in his 1994 campaign literature, you can expect action from me and everyone else I can find in support to remove him from office as soon as possible.

RONALD L. MUZZY

Huntington Beach

* We should all be appalled that Orange County supervisors (Roger R.) Stanton, (Gaddi H.) Vasquez and (William G.) Steiner remain entrenched in their positions as William J. Popejoy, their appointed bounty hunter, carries out his mission of diverting attention from his bosses by finding and purging all possible scapegoats. Meanwhile, blameless county employees are facing devastating layoffs as those morally bankrupt supervisors spend countless thousands of tax dollars on spin doctors to further conceal their responsibility for the disaster.

Now that Popejoy has presumed the authority to seek the removal of an elected official (Orange County’s auditor-controller), perhaps he should exercise such power to remove the only current officeholders truly responsible for the disaster--the supervisors.

ROBERT B. BEAUCHAMP

Irvine

* The Orange County bankruptcy problems will not be solved with those in positions of power packing the investigating bodies with friends who bow to their wishes!

An editorial recently reminded us that in California, some of the risky strategies were made easier by state legislation. Supervisor Marian Bergeson, a former senator, acknowledges she carried some of that legislation, and has now chosen many who voted for it to be part of the team to investigate it.

Questions for Bergeson: “Who wrote the legislation?” Was it (Michael) Stamenson from Merrill Lynch? (Robert L.) Citron at the behest of whom? Marian Bergeson at the suggestion of whom? Thomas F. Riley or former aide now state Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer? Harriett M. Wieder? (William G.) Steiner? And/or (Gaddi H.) Vasquez?

Whose idea was it to pass legislation making it mandatory for all public school funds to be put in the county pool? What a windfall for the broker!

We are still asked to trust leaders and agencies who are incompetent and continue to blame others. What better constitutes a need for a grand jury investigation?

So far we have the same players reshuffling the deck. What will we be dealt next?

The Orange County Grand Jury should investigate, and not leave it to the above.

MARGE PANTZAR

Newport Beach

* Day after day, I am tired of seeing a new spin on who is to fault for the bankruptcy in Orange County. Every time you read a headline, it seems someone is pointing the finger in another direction.

Yes, I will agree that the supervisors have a fiduciary responsibility to oversee budgets; however, if you are misinformed, how can you be held 100% accountable for the fall?

I say hats off to the new supervisors who have inherited this mess, and hats off to William J. Popejoy, who has graciously devoted his time to reorganize this financial fatality.

I wish the media would stop criticizing every move the leaders make and spin stories on the least painful strategy toward financial recovery. Give the leaders a chance to lead us back to prosperity!

NATASHA SCHUMACHER

Newport Beach

* Re: “Supervisors Salaries Still Intact” (Feb. 23):

This gets more and more bizarre each day! The reason for the lack of financial oversight is becoming obvious to everyone now. First of all, 5% of $82,056 does not compute out to $204 per month or $225 per month. Obviously someone at the county level has a fundamental problem with math. Secondly, does (Supervisor William G.) Steiner somehow believe that “his favorite charity,” which is tax deductible, is the one suffering from his bad judgment and lack of competent oversight? I thought that the purpose of reducing his salary was supposed to help out our county finances.

Lastly, (Supervisor Gaddi H.) Vasquez is giving up only $100 a month while retaining his $715 car allowance, full salary and additional perks. I’m certain the county employees who no longer have a job would like to be temporarily laid off or give up a token amount as well. It’s time for a change! We need leadership in touch with reality!

CAMERON M. McCUNE

Irvine