Santa Barbara News Press Editorial
Our Opinion: County needs Secord's fiscal leadership
Dan Secord's fiscal leadership is required on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors more than ever.
As a two-term member of the Santa Barbara City Council, Dr. Secord established a record as a fiscal hawk. Ever on the alert for more efficient and effective ways of doing things, he was a great asset to the city in managing its budget. Now, his leadership would benefit the county of Santa Barbara.
During Janet Wolf's term on the Board of Supervisors, the average cost of a county employee has increased from $91,400 in 2006-07, when she was elected, to a projected $118,900 in 2010-11 — an average increase of $27,500 or 30 percent, per employee. County employees have never done as well — certainly absolutely and perhaps proportionately — as they have during Ms. Wolf's time on the board.
Moreover, this trend is projected to continue. Many county employees continue to have salary increases scheduled. The concessions in salary thus far address less than one-fifth of the structural deficit in 2011-12.
As a result, services are being slashed in the county. More than 300 county positions have been eliminated in the past two years. Another 170 are slated for elimination this year, including almost 40 in public safety. The Sheriff's Department would lose 27.5 more positions. The Santa Maria Jail would be closed, as would counseling and education centers in the Probation Department.
Four years ago, the vote in the county's 2nd Supervisorial District was close — just 5 percentage points separated Ms. Wolf and Dr. Secord at that time. This race is likely to be in about the same range.
Four years ago, Ms. Wolf opposed Dr. Secord's efforts to establish a finance committee on the Board of Supervisors similar to the finance committee on the Santa Barbara City Council. A finance committee would allow year-round consideration of the county budget, not just during the spring at board meetings packed with other items.
Dr. Secord opposes a new county emergency operations center until economic times improve. By way of contrast, Ms. Wolf supports spending millions of dollars on this facility at a time the county is downsizing by hundreds of positions and will soon have excess space in existing county facilities.
In the area of the environment and land use, there is not a great deal that separates the candidates. Dr. Secord has always opposed offshore oil drilling. His membership on the California Coastal Commission has given him much experience in land-use issues.
What Santa Barbara County needs now is a financial expert on the Board of Supervisors. Dan Secord is the best candidate.
