ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Panel Explosion

The Orange County Grand Jury has shown sound thinking in its call for streamlining the hodgepodge of boards, commissions and committees now at work, or somewhat at work, in the county.

The jurors found that there are 85 county-appointed panels. A dozen duplicate the work of others; merging them would be a quick, easy and good start. For one thing, it would save money, which is always a good idea, especially during a recession when the county is faced with budget cuts and possible staff layoffs.

Some panels meet for only 10 minutes. One has not had a session in two years. Members of one board receive $100 for telephone meetings, which the grand jury rightly called inefficient and subject to abuse.

Even when members are not paid for meetings, they take up county staff time. Ninety percent of the panels lack “sunset” clauses, meaning they will exist until someone decides they serve no good purpose. No one ever seems to get around to making that decision, so sunset clauses should be built in.

Ironically, to save money, the Board of Supervisors has cut back on audits of the panels, so no one knows what they cost or what benefits they provide. Some are required by state or federal law; some obviously do good work and should continue. The Human Relations Commission, for instance, has been a valuable watchdog against ethnic, racial and religious discrimination.

But the grand jury is right in calling on the supervisors to evaluate each panel and get rid of those no longer needed.