County Government Needed Still--Maybe in a New Role : * Its agenda in social services and public safety will continue to grow

It was not long ago that the Orange County Board of Supervisors was all-powerful. It shaped communities that became models of suburban living, many of which later incorporated. It oversaw the placement of freeways and helped unlock the door to the Magic Kingdom. Absent a dominating city such as Los Angeles, county government was the only game in town.

Nearly 36 years after Tinkerbell took up residence in Orange County, things have changed. Most of the county’s unincorporated area is either developed or otherwise spoken for, and the rest of the county’s land is under the purview of individual cities. Meanwhile, regional agencies have a bigger say in air, water and transportation issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries.

However, even as cities and regional governments nibble at the board’s power, its leadership has become more important than ever. For example, the board is in a unique position to bring together cities and special districts to attack social problems that threaten to divide the county into the haves and have-nots.

County government has the best perspective to remind wealthier cities that they cannot afford to be parochial, and that ignoring social problems, such as homelessness and gangs, is irresponsible and may bring on a deteriorating quality of life for all.

County government is also well positioned to ensure that the trend toward regional government actually represents the best interest of ordinary citizens. Plans are afoot in the Legislature to broaden regional agencies and give them more power over land-use decisions. But, while levels of government must learn to work together to solve area problems, it would be a mistake to simply throw out county government for the sake of trying something new at the regional level. Legislators should remember also that county boards have an advantage of direct accountability to voters, which keeps them from getting out of touch.

Now is a fitting time for the Orange County board to rethink its role. On March 5, the communities of El Toro and Laguna Hills are expected to vote to become the county’s 30th and 31st cities, leaving 275,000 residents--less than 12% of the county’s population--in unincorporated areas. More new cities are on the horizon, raising a question of what is left for the county to do. And thoughtful citizens, not only in Orange County but throughout the state, are wondering aloud whether county government has outlived its usefulness.

It’s a question worth discussing, but the answer will be a long time coming. And in the meantime, counties must continue to provide services such as libraries, parks and sheriff’s protection, and deliver state-mandated welfare and health programs. Those functions won’t change even if all unincorporated areas withdraw behind city boundaries. Still, more could be done to engage cities in sharing responsibility for the well-being of the county as a whole. The county must take the lead in that effort with a boost from Sacramento.

For the moment, the board must deal with such pressing problems as balancing a budget that is $13 million in the red, financing construction of a jail and maintaining adequate indigent medical services. Nor is Orange County alone in these or similar problems. Many of the state’s 58 counties have had serious difficulties since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 removed much of their tax base and independence. It didn’t help Orange County that the state allocated property taxes according to formulas that favored counties that were fully mature at the time.

There are encouraging indications that Sacramento has begun to take the fiscal desperation of counties more seriously. For example, Gov. Pete Wilson has signaled that he would support changes in laws that induce revenue-hungry cities to try to capture sales tax revenues--many times to the detriment of counties. Wilson also has proposed turning over certain mental health and health programs to counties, but with a designated funding source.

Those measures would provide needed relief for Orange County. But strong leadership right here in the Hall of Administration is just as important--now more than ever.