Worrisome Days In Orange County
Prolonged recession has changed economic attitudes and behavior in Orange County. Combined with the first drop in median household income in more than a decade, jobs and the economy now rank as the county’s most important issue. Money is an increasing cause for concern, and as income has dropped, charitable giving has gone down. The percentage of residents who are “very satisfied” with their financial situation has been nearly halved since 1982.
Most important issues:
Jobs, economy: 26%
Crime: 17
Traffic: 14
Schools: 13
Growth: 11
Immigration: 10
Housing: 9
First drop in median household income:
In thousands
1982: $29
1983: 32
1984: 36
1985: 39
1986: 41
1987: 42
1988: 44
1989: 45
1990: 49
1991: 49
1992: 45
Worries about money:
1986 1992 Very often 14% 26% Fairly often 28 33 Not often 58 41
Those “very satisfied” with finances drop:
1982: 30%
1991: 21
1992: 17
Annual median charitable contributions plummet:
1987: $262
1988: 182
1989: 285
1990: 223
1991: 229
1992: 146
Source: Orange County Annual Survey, UC Irvine
