LOS ANGELES COUNTY MEASURES ON THE JUNE 3 BALLOT

PROPOSITION

Charter Amendment A Changes in Civil Service WHAT IT WOULD DO

Allow up to 1,500 middle and senior management county employees--2% of the county’s labor force--who are currently in Civil Service positions to move into an unclassified management merit system. As such, they would be eligible for performance bonuses. The change would be optional and those who made the change could return to Civil Service status at will.

ARGUMENTS FOR

The measure would upgrade the quality of county management, attracting the best talent into government, similar to plans in other California cities and counties. There would be no added costs; pay-for-performance bonuses could be underwritten out of current budget allocations.

Supporters: Supervisors Pete Schabarum, Deane Dana and Mike Antonovich

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

The measure would open the way for massive political patronage that would, in effect, make the supervisors political bosses. The independence and honesty fostered by the Civil Service system would be compromised through politically influenced appointments. Based on an average county management salary of about $50,000--and assuming 5% annual bonuses--the ultimate annual cost to the taxpayer would be in the $4-million range.

Opponents: Supervisors Kenneth Hahn and Ed Edelman.

PROPOSITION

Charter Amendment B Appointed Assessor WHAT IT WOULD DO

Amend the county Charter so that the assessor would be appointed by the Board of Supervisors, rather than elected by the voters.

ARGUMENTS FOR

The assessor has become more of an administrator than a policy-maker and the duties have become more technical and complex, requiring specialized management and data processing experience. There is no guarantee a qualified administrator would win an election.

Supporters: Supervisors Deane Dana and Pete Schabarum.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

Los Angeles would be the only county in the state with an appointed assessor. An elected assessor is needed to assure there is an independent voice in county government on tax matters. Approval of this measure would further concentrate power in the hands of the five-member Board of Supervisors.

Opponents: Supervisors Kenneth Hahn and Ed Edelman and Howard Jarvis.

LOS ANGELES CITY MEASURES

PROPOSITION

Charter Amendment C Disability Pensions WHAT IT WOULD DO

Under current law, police officers, firefighters and paramedics who become disabled in the line of duty are entitled to a disability pension. But before they can receive disability pensions, they must repay any workers’ compensation awards they have received from the city in previous years. This measure would allow such employees to receive 75% of their disability pension while paying off previous workers’ compensation awards on an installment basis.

ARGUMENTS FOR

The current system is inequitable, because employees hired before 1981 must wait up to six months, on average, for their disability pension checks while they are paying off old compensation awards, which may not have been related to their current disability.

Supporters: Los Angeles Taxpayers Assn., United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, AFL-CIO, the Police Protective League and members of the Board of Pension Commissioners.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

No organized opposition.

PROPOSITION

Charter Amendment D, Proposition E Cable TV WHAT IT WOULD DO

Extend from 10 to 15 years the maximum duration of a cable televison franchise before it must be renewed by the City Council. The council could still renew a franchise for less than 15 years, but could not renew one for more. Both measures must be approved for the extension to take effect.

ARGUMENTS FOR

Twelve of the city’s 14 cable television franchises face renewal next year. Cable television interests need the extra five years to attract new financing. The extra margin would offer potential investors the carrot of a better chance to turn a profit.

Supporters: Southern California Cable Assn.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

No major opposition has come forth, but a spokesman for the Bank of Boston, a leading cable television lender, said extending franchises an extra five years is not of great significance to cable television industry investors.