BOND TICKER : Four Top Officials to Pay Assembly Members a Visit

Four top county officials will travel to Sacramento today to meet with lawmakers about legislation designed to help the county recover from its financial crisis.

County Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy, Board of Supervisors Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez, Supervisor Marian Bergeson and Sheriff Brad Gates will have discussions with members of an Assembly committee looking into the county bankruptcy.

County officials have asked the legislators to approve bills that would relieve the county from certain state mandates, allow it to use special funds for general operations and provide it advances of state money it is owed.

Orange Ribbon Suggested as Tax Plan Symbol

Diane Taylor of Brea came to Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors bearing gifts: snippets of orange ribbon secured with tiny citrus emblems.

“I suggest the orange ribbon become the symbol of support for Measure R,” the half-cent sales tax proposal that goes before voters June 27, Taylor said.

Board members, who have come under fire for setting the special election, sat mum as Taylor handed over five of the ribbons to the board clerk.

Teachers Group Considers Measure R Position

The California Teachers Assn., which represents most Orange County public school instructors, is expected to take a position in the coming weeks on Measure R.

John Smith, a CTA training specialist, said association officials will study the issue and probably recommend a position sometime before the election.

While many officials have responded with coolness to Measure R, support for the tax increase is slightly stronger among school district leaders. Some school officials see passage of the ballot measure as a crucial step in recovering 100% of the money they had in the county’s collapsed investment pool.

Under a settlement now being considered by school boards, districts would receive 90% of their investments by June, with the rest promised later.

Compiled by Shelby Grad with Rene Lynch.