O.C. plans to quit funding film agency but not tourism council
Wrapping up a two-day planning session for the coming year’s budget, Orange County supervisors on Wednesday decided to kill funding for the county film commission but let the tourism council live.
The two agencies have been on the chopping block for years, as the county has increasingly moved away from funding activities that promote Orange County.
The film commission, which didn’t receive funding from the county two years ago, advertises Orange County to filmmakers who would film locally, and the tourism council seeks to draw visitors.
Both the film commission and the tourism council had been targeted by county staff. But the board decided on a 4-1 vote to award the tourism council the $150,000 it was seeking, with Chairman Chris Norby voting against it.
The film commission was less fortunate: The board unanimously rejected its $60,000 funding request. The proposed action does not kill the quasi-public film commission, which also receives private funding.
The board also declined to award the county registrar $4.5 million to cover the cost of the February 2008 presidential primary, in the expectation that the state would provide the money.
In addition, the treasurer-tax collector’s budget is slated to be $1.7 million lower than it was this year, due in part to reduced overtime expenses and what Treasurer Chriss Street said would be a more efficient operation because of nearly $600,000 in office renovations. The renovations were the subject of a Times story this month.
The board is scheduled to meet June 26 to adopt the final budget.
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