LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a bill authored by Lake County’s members of the state Legislature that will allow the county government to combine the elected positions of auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector into a single elected office.
Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) wrote AB 632, which was co-authored by Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), and introduced in February.
Aguiar-Curry’s office reported that the bill received overwhelming bipartisan support when it passed in June.
Combining the two positions can lead to greater efficiency and collaboration, while cutting down on county costs, according to Aguiar-Curry’s office.
Five other counties currently have this authority: Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Trinity and Tulare. Aguiar-Curry’s office said the counties of Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Tulare have already combined the two offices.
“I do everything I can to support the recovery and resilience of Lake County. The signing of AB 632 gives Lake County another tool to cut down on costs, while continuing to provide important local services to residents,” said Aguiar-Curry. “The combined auditor-controller-treasurer-tax collector position would still be elected by the voters, ensuring that the people of Lake County continue to have a voice in their county’s government.”
The governor’s signature followed by two days the Lake County Board of Supervisors’ approval of a letter to him to ask for him to support the bill.
“Lake County has been devastated by recent wildfires that have burned over 60% of the county’s land mass. As a result, Lake County is facing various financial challenges. We anticipate a $9 million annual budget shortfall by 2022-23, unless we are able to identify new sources of revenue and find ways to reduce costs,” the letter, signed by Board Chair Tina Scott, said.
“As part of our Fiscal Crisis Management Plan, we are considering combining these two fiscal offices, to cut down on county costs while still serving our constituents. The flexibility that AB 632 provides will enable Lake County to appropriately respond to both significant staffing and financial concerns. Because this legislation gives Lake County another tool to help during this fiscal crisis, we respectfully urge you to sign AB 632,” the letter said.
Aguiar-Curry told Lake County News that the county had guaranteed her that the intention was not to take out any positions until someone left.
She did not have information about the potential amount of money that the county could save, but said other counties that have done the same consolidation have had savings.
Cathy Saderlund is Lake County’s auditor-controller-county clerk, while Barbara Ringen is the tax collector-treasurer.
Both were initially appointed by the board on the retirement of their predecessors, Saderlund in October 2011 and Ringen in 2013. They ran unopposed and were reelected in June 2018.
Board seeks legislation
Aguiar-Curry wrote the bill in response to a request from the Board of Supervisors, with the board following up with a March 5 letter of support.
In September, the Board of Supervisors reached consensus to seek the legislation to consolidate the two offices, with then-Board Chair Jim Steele stating that it was an opportunity to streamline fiscal departments and address the county’s financial situation, as Lake County News has reported.
At the September meeting, the board cited Ringen’s challenges with staffing that were making it difficult for her to complete work on time, including closing the books for county budget preparation.
Both Ringen and Saderlund at that time said they would work with the county on researching and studying any resulting transition.
At the same meeting, the board supported making the minimum qualifications for the offices a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with experience not to be allowed as a substitute for education, which would apply to future office holders and will need to be separately established by county ordinance.
So far, county officials have been unable to provide an estimate for potential cost savings.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson told Lake County News at the time the board submitted its spring support letter to Aguiar-Curry’s office that they had no calculated costs at that point as there was no imminent plan for consolidation.
“While recent election outcomes have solidified both financial offices for the next four years, having this option will enable our Board to consider the course that best serves our constituents in the future. Whether or not Lake County moves forward will be a decision of the Board, based on an analysis of all relevant factors at the time,” Huchingson said.
As of the board’s spring support letter, there hadn’t been any discussion involving Saderlund about the mechanics of consolidation, nor had she spoken to Aguiar-Curry’s office.
Ringen did not respond to calls and emails from Lake County News asking about the bill and the consolidation proposal.
Saderlund said she was willing to write a white paper on consolidation, explaining that there would be timelines and processes that would need to take place.
“Both offices are so busy anyway,” she said.
She said she hoped the board and the County Administrative Office would reach out to the two impacted departments to work collaboratively and do a cost analysis should the county move forward after legislation was approved.
She said it’s not a new concept, and that it has worked in other counties, adding that Napa County had been exploring it at one point as well.
Last month, Saderlund told Lake County News that the California State Association of County Auditors, of which she is an executive officer, had taken a “watch” position on AB 632 after its Legislative Committee reviewed the bill.
AB 632 will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
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Governor signs bill to allow Lake County to combine auditor-controller, treasurer-tax collector positions
- Elizabeth Larson
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