Government Reform

Like many of her neighbors, Garden Grove resident Barbara Anderson says she's fed up with city and county government and proclaims wholehearted support for the concept of the year: restructuring. But mention one downsizing proposal under consideration--disbanding her city's Fire Department in favor of contract service from the county fire authority--and Anderson's zeal wanes. "I think we have a good Fire Department. I don't see the purpose of messing with it," she said warily.

A preliminary Orange County budget that would add more than 100 new jobs and restore some programs slashed in the wake of the bankruptcy won qualified support Tuesday from county supervisors, who vowed to scale back some spending increases during budget deliberations this summer.

Saying that dramatic steps are required to cut costs and improve efficiency in the wake of the Orange County bankruptcy, Chief Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier on Wednesday unveiled a plan that would dismantle two huge county agencies, shift more responsibility to her office and possibly result in layoffs.

Officially, Orange County will emerge from the worst municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history this week--a mere 18 months after going broke. But in reality the debacle will haunt the nation's fifth-largest county for decades to come. Crooks will spend less time in jail and potholes will go unfilled longer, while county residents pay increased fees for parks, trash collection and a host of other services.

Officially, Orange County will emerge from the worst municipal bankruptcy in U. S. history this week--a mere 18 months after going broke. But in reality the debacle will haunt the nation's fifth-largest county for decades to come. Crooks will spend less time in jail and potholes will go unfilled longer, while county residents pay increased fees for parks, trash collection and a host of other services.

Opponents of Measure T have sent questionnaires to all city council members in Orange County seeking their views on the proposed county charter, which goes before voters in March. Patrick Quaney, a leader of the Concerned Citizens Charter Committee, said surveys were also sent to about 90 state and local candidates who are on the March 26 ballot. "We feel this is the kind of issue that people should take a stand on," he said. "We want to see where the politicians come down on this."

A proposal to merge the state Senate and Assembly into a single legislature is not likely to survive this week's final session of the California Constitution Revision Commission, the panel's chairman said Monday. Chairman William Hauck, a former aide to Gov. Pete Wilson, has been a proponent of a single 121-member California Senate, but Hauck said he would not push hard to include the idea in the constitutional overhaul plan being written this week for the November ballot.

In a classic case of actions speaking louder than words, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl shored up the flagging fortunes of President Boris N. Yeltsin on Tuesday by snubbing Yeltsin's Communist rival and reminding Russians that their future prosperity depends on good ties with the West.

California government reformers killed the idea of a one-house Legislature on Tuesday, but forged ahead with a proposal for a new type of super local government that could combine the functions of cities, counties, special districts and schools under one governing body. The California Constitution Revision Commission also voted to overhaul public school finance by giving local districts block grants of state funds with enhanced authority to spend the money.

The Orange County Business Council announced its support Monday for the proposed county charter, just days after the Orange County Republican Central Committee said it will oppose Measure T. The business council, which has long praised the charter plan, stated its position in newspaper advertisements published this week.