Popejoy Memo Accuses Supervisor of Double Standard on Budget Cuts

Orange County Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy launched a blistering private attack on Supervisor Jim Silva on Thursday, accusing him of refusing to reduce his own office budget while publicly supporting “deep cuts” in county services.

In a scathing memo to Silva obtained by The Times, Popejoy described the supervisor’s stance as “an insult to the employees of the county, who must carry much of the burden of the upcoming budget cuts.”

Popejoy, who has asked all five supervisors to make drastic reductions in their office budgets, wrote in the memo, dated Thursday, that he found Silva’s posture “unbelievable.”

“Your dual standard represents, in my opinion, a total lack of leadership and is an unfeeling position for you to assume during this crisis,” Popejoy wrote. “How can we ask schools, cities and others who trusted the county with their funds to make sacrifices when we refuse to do so?”

Popejoy’s aggressive memo followed a heated meeting with Silva Wednesday night, during which the supervisor refused to make a second round of cuts to his office budget, sources said.

Silva said he was dismayed and angry at Popejoy for writing the memo, but added that he has changed his position since meeting with the new county CEO. Silva said he now plans to make significant cuts to his own budget--but only if other supervisors follow suit.

“I feel that he was right that the board must lead by example,” he said. Although he refused to specify the cuts, Silva said they will be “drastic” and involve at least one layoff among his six staff members. The reductions will be in addition to the 22% budget cut Silva made when he took over from former Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder in January.

Silva also said that unlike three other county supervisors, he does not have a county car.

Even though he believes Popejoy was right about cutting supervisors’ office budgets, Silva said he was upset about the memo, which he said portrayed him inaccurately.

“The implications in that letter are not even close to being true. I have a very good reputation with city employees and county employees,” he said. “I think it’s going to be difficult working with (Popejoy) now.”

Popejoy refused Thursday to discuss the memo or his meeting with Silva. “If Mr. Silva wants to talk about it, then that’s fine,” he said.

Popejoy said he is meeting with other board members about cutting their budgets, but refused to say whether they are complying.

Although supervisors’ budgets vary somewhat, all were at least $500,000 annually before the county declared bankruptcy Dec 6. County budget officials have asked the supervisors to trim their budgets to $387,000 each.

All other supervisors said Thursday they are trying comply with the request. They are scheduled to offer proposed cuts to Popejoy today.

“It affects us, but we’re not left with much of a choice,” said Board Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez, who said that he has already reached the goal.