County reorganization to cost $1.7 million

The dramatic reorganization that will grant Los Angeles County’s appointed administrator sweeping new executive authority is expected to cost $1.7 million a year and create five executive positions, according to a report released Monday.

The reorganization, which was approved by four of the five elected supervisors earlier this year, was designed to consolidate executive power to improve accountability and streamline government. Beginning July 1, department heads will report to the county executive rather than take direct -- and at times conflicting -- orders from the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Mike Antonovich opposed the move.

The new configuration will mean “more effective, more efficient services, quicker decisions being made about countywide services,” said David Janssen, the county’s chief administrator.

Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky proposed the changes after the county’s unsuccessful search to find an administrator to replace Janssen, who will leave no later than the end of the year. Two candidates to replace him rejected the board’s offers.

The board governs a county of 10 million residents and has struggled to solve serious problems with county hospitals, jails and juvenile halls.

The structure will empower the top executive to manage all top non-elected county officials and hire and fire them with supervisors’ approval. The county counsel, fire chief, auditor-controller and executive officer of the board will be exempt from chief executive control.

The ordinance also prohibits supervisors and their staffs from issuing orders to county employees but does allow them to seek information or assistance.

Under the plan, which will require voter approval to become permanent, supervisors will focus on crafting policy as the chief executive’s office implements policy and manages the day-to-day functioning of county government.

Antonovich argued that granting an appointed executive greater authority diluted elected officials’ power.

The board intends to submit the reorganization to voters in June 2008.

The changes include creating 10 positions, including five deputy chief executive officers and five secretarial posts. Six jobs, including the now-defunct chief administrative officer and chief deputy administrative officer, will be eliminated.

The newly titled chief executive will help coordinate business among all department heads, and will be responsible for developing the county’s $21.2-billion budget.

Departments will be grouped into five categories. For example, Public Safety will include the Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department and Public Defender among others.

Each of the five deputy chief executive officers will oversee a cluster of connected departments, help integrate their services, and act as a liaison between department heads and the board.

Supervisors’ deputies still will help draft policy and respond to constituents’ requests.

The governance plan’s proposed budget is scheduled to be considered by supervisors May 22.

susannah.rosenblatt @latimes.com