UCI

The Financial Crisis: Local Government

A topic of particular relevance this year is the effect of the county's financial crisis on attitudes toward local government. To this end, we repeated questions about local government that we asked a decade ago. Today's responses indicate that confidence in Orange County government has been hurt.

Forty-one percent describe the current system of county and city governments sharing responsibility for solving problems in Orange County as effective, while 51 percent say it is not. A decade ago, 56 percent thought local government was effective.

Two in three say that, compared to the way it is now, they would prefer their cities to have more authority over local affairs than they do today, while 22 percent would give the county government more power and 7 percent would keep the current balance the same. A decade ago, only 58 percent wanted to give the cities more responsibility.

Twenty-six percent would favor a merger of county and city governments into one large countywide government, and 68 percent are opposed. A decade ago, a similar 29 percent favored a merger of county and city governments.

Those 35 and older are less likely than younger residents to say the current local government system is effective (35% to 51%), and to oppose a local government merger (72% to 61%). Residents aged 35 to 54 are more likely than others to want their cities to have more power (71% to 63%).

Residents with incomes above $36,000 are more likely than others to want the cities to have more authority (71% to 56%) and to oppose a local government merger (72% to 58%). There are no income differences in local government effectiveness ratings.

Those living outside the Central County are more opposed than others to a merger of the city and county government (71% to 57%). There are no differences in ratings of local government effectiveness or in preference for cities having more power.

Next, we consider the level of support for the various proposals to change the structure of Orange County government that are now being discussed.

Fifty-nine percent favor appointing a chief executive officer to run Orange County government and changing the Board of Supervisors from full-time to part-time positions. One in three are opposed and 8 percent are undecided. The margin of support is even higher among voters (61% to 31%).

Forty-one percent are in favor of changing the Orange County treasurer, clerk and auditor from elected offices to appointed posts in Orange County government. Fifty-three percent are opposed and 6 percent are unsure. The margin of opposition grows among voters (39% to 55%).

Sixty-eight percent are in favor of authorizing Orange County government to "contract out" with private companies to provide county services. Twenty-six percent are opposed and 6 percent are undecided. Voters give this proposal a similarly enthusiastic response (69% to 25%).

Those 35 and older are more in favor of appointing a strong county CEO than are younger adults (63% to 52%). There are no age differences in support for appointed county positions or contracting out.

Residents with incomes above $36,000 are more likely than those earning less to favor a strong county CEO (63% to 53%) and to authorize contracting out (73% to 64%), but there are no differences in support for appointed county positions.

South County residents are more likely than others to favor appointing a strong county CEO (65% to 56%). There are no regional differences in support for appointed county positions or contracting out.

Also, we examine some of the proposals that have been discussed to change the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Only 23 percent favor increasing the number of supervisors on the current five-member Board, while 71 percent are opposed. Voters show a similarly negative response (20% to 75%).

By contrast, term limits for county supervisors draw favor from 83 percent, with only 13 percent opposed. The margin of support is equally high among voters (85% to 12%).

Those 35 and older are more opposed to increasing the number of supervisors than are younger residents (77% to 59%). There are no age differences in support for term limits.

Residents with incomes above $36,000 are more likely than others to oppose increasing the number of supervisors (76% to 60%) and to favor setting term limits (86% to 78%).

There are no regional differences in opposition to increasing the number of supervisors or support for term limits.

Interestingly, those who say they have been personally affected by the county bankruptcy, and those who are very fearful of its future impacts, are no more likely than others to support the various proposals to restructure Orange County government and the Board of Supervisors.