ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Pain for Law Enforcement

With their cuts in law enforcement budgets, the Orange County supervisors have provided yet another dramatic example of how the bankruptcy has changed county government. The scaling back was necessary and sent the warranted message that no agency will escape the fiscal pain.

The Board of Supervisors last week heeded Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy’s recommendations to trim $4 million from the annual budget of Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates and $2 million from the budget of Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi.

Support for law enforcement traditionally has been strong in Orange County, and both Gates and Capizzi have proved popular at the polls. However, the supervisors already had been forced to approve nearly $190 million in cuts from the general fund operating budget, to put a sales tax increase on the ballot and to authorize selling some assets and privatizing some services. The December bankruptcy has forced a major restructuring of county government, and it would be unrealistic to expect law enforcement to duck the ax.

In battling to retain funds, the sheriff rightly reminded the supervisors of problems likely to be caused by overcrowded jails, delays in processing tests at the crime laboratory and slower responses by the coroner’s staff.

Gates and Capizzi have courageously supported the temporary half-cent sales tax increase that will go on the ballot in June. Their promises to campaign for the measure should be an example to Orange County supervisors, City Council members, school board trustees and others of the need to explain to voters how the face of government has changed because of the bankruptcy.

For those who are deeply concerned about crime, it must also be clear that Orange County’s fiscal situation really is critical.