Action Delayed on Jail Fees Opposed by Cities

Faced with stiff opposition from Orange County cities, the Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to delay consideration of a jail booking fee that officials say could raise $2.1 million needed to close the county budget gap.

Although the supervisors postponed final action on the $75.50-per-inmate fee, a majority of the board pledged to support imposing some sort of levy when the matter is taken up again in November.

“I have no problem with the imposition of booking fees,” said Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, who moved to delay the board action. “It was the process that bothered me.”

The board’s action Wednesday comes just one week before supervisors have to consider their fiscal year 1990-91 budget, which is facing a shortfall of more than $40 million. Budget officials had hoped the board would authorize the booking fees so that the budget presented next week could preserve some programs.

But many cities objected furiously to the proposal, arguing that it would force cutbacks in their police services and wreak havoc on their already-approved budgets. Nearly a dozen representatives of city police departments were on hand for Wednesday’s session.

One police chief, Philip A. Goehring of Fullerton, urged the board to delay voting on the fee and raised the threat of retaliation by cities if the fee was enacted, perhaps by charging for police and fire coverage in unincorporated “islands” throughout the county.

Supervisor Thomas F. Riley bristled at those remarks, saying that “to come back with a threat turns Tom Riley off,” but he joined his colleagues in agreeing to delay a vote on the fees until after the cities can review the proposal. Riley and Supervisor Don R. Roth had initially supported going ahead with a vote on the matter Wednesday but backed off after the other supervisors indicated their desire for a delay.

Wieder, along with Supervisor Roger R. Stanton, led the move to postpone action on the proposal because she said she was concerned that cities had been given too little time to prepare for the fee. The state budget, approved by the governor late last month, authorized counties to begin charging the booking fees as a way to make up for deep state cuts to many county programs.

If the supervisors approve the fee in November, county officials say they can preserve services that depend on the $2.1 million it would raise. But if the board balks, the county would be forced to absorb further cuts to a variety of programs, including plans to make the county courthouse safer in an earthquake.

County mental health services and new Sheriff’s Department patrols also are on a “menu” of possible cuts if the board rejects the fees, said Ronald S. Rubino, assistant county administrative officer for management and budget.

Also at Wednesday’s session, the supervisors approved higher fees in several areas, including one for the use of county paramedic services.

Under that fee, residents will be given the opportunity to subscribe for paramedic services. Subscribers will pay an annual fee, expected to run between $30 and $45, for which they will be eligible to receive free services; those who decline the subscription would have to pay for paramedics if they called for them.