O.C. Marshal Wants Share of Law Enforcement Funds

Orange County Marshal Michael S. Carona is challenging Sheriff Brad Gates to a political shootout over the county’s distribution of millions of dollars in tax funds earmarked for law enforcement.

Carona, who generally keeps a low profile, is asking the county to give his agency $2.2 million of the more than $149 million expected to be channeled into the county next year under Proposition 172, a sales tax that raises money for law enforcement.

Five percent of the funds go to local law enforcement agencies. Of the rest, the Sheriff’s Department gets 80% and the district attorney’s office gets 20%.

Carona said he needs the money because the county’s bankruptcy led to deep slashes in his budget.

But Gates, one of the most politically powerful people in the county and one with a reputation for fiercely protecting his agency’s budget, is not eager to share his pot of gold. Gates on Thursday suggested that his agency could assume the responsibility of serving arrest warrants--the marshal’s primary task--if Carona cannot afford to do so.

“Frankly, I’m disappointed in the marshal,” said Gates, who contends that the law does not allow Proposition 172 funds to be used for court-related functions. “He can read the law as well as I can and the law says you can’t do that.”

Carona agrees with Gates on that point. But he believes that serving arrest warrants falls into the category of law enforcement, and could be funded by Proposition 172 funds.

Carona, who aborted a campaign for sheriff a few years ago after Gates decided to stick with the post, laughed about the possibility of a showdown.

“I don’t want to do anything that will make the sheriff mad or make the sheriff sad,” he said. “But my bid to get this money is really a bid for a solid public policy analysis.”

Gates is credited with aiding the passage of Proposition 172, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 1993. Since then, there have been statewide disputes over the interpretation of “law enforcement.”

Some counties wanted to use the money to supplement the budgets for lifeguards. Others include probation departments in their definition. But in Orange County, the funds are monopolized by Gates and Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi.

Proposition 172 funding has already been the subject of heated debates before the County Board of Supervisors. Although the funding allotment is set for the remainder of the fiscal year, some supervisors have shown a willingness to share Proposition 172 funds with other financially ailing agencies.

The board is expected to decide the issue in the coming weeks.