2009 Press Releases

The Orange County Board of Supervisors and Costa Mesa City Council have approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the proposed purchase, governance, and operation of the Orange County Fairgrounds.

(Santa Ana, CA) - County Executive Officer Thomas G. Mauk has appointed Jess Carbajal as Director of OC Public Works, which includes the County's Facilities, Planning and Engineering divisions.

(Santa Ana, CA) - Board of Supervisors Chair Patricia C. Bates is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the Board of Retirement of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

(Irvine, CA) – Orange County Board of Supervisors Chair Patricia C. Bates will join the Orange County Fire Authority
(OCFA) and OC Parks officials Thursday to announce a new, countywide fire watch program to alert the public of
elevated fire dangers in wilderness parks and communities across Orange County.

(Santa Ana, CA) - Enrollment growth in the CalWORKs, Food Stamp and Medi-Cal programs will result in a $9 million net increase in Federal and State funding for the Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA), allowing the agency to fill 99 vacant employee positions.

The California State Association of Counties presented awards to three County agencies and departments for innovation and resourcefulness.

(Santa Ana, CA) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law Senate Bill 752 allowing Orange County to fully implement a new optional tier of pension benefits for many non-safety employees.

(Santa Ana, CA)- The County of Orange has reinstated its Re-Issued Mortgage Credit Certificate (RMCC) Program for existing Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) holders who have refinanced their principal residence since 2003.

SANTA ANA, CA, Sept. 15, 2009 – ReadyOC, Orange County's largest disaster preparedness initiative, today unveiled a new web-based campaign to educate and empower residents and businesses to prepare for and respond to emergencies using resources available at ReadyOC.org.

The Superior Court of Orange County will be closed the third Wednesday of each month beginning September 16, 2009, through June 16, 2010.

(Santa Ana, CA) - Bryan Speegle, the Director of OC Public Works, has announced his retirement after more than 26 years of service to the County of Orange.

(Santa Ana, CA)- The County of Orange has been recognized by the 2009 Digital Counties Survey for accomplishments in using technology to deliver services electronically and communicate effectively with community members.

(Santa Ana, CA) - County Executive Officer Thomas G. Mauk has appointed David L. Riley to serve as Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA), effective immediately.

(Santa Ana, CA) — A United States District Court Judge has ruled that the County of Orange is not contractually obligated to provide retirees with a health insurance "pooling" benefit and has granted the County's motion for summary judgment in the case.

(Santa Ana, CA) - The Orange County Board of Supervisors today approved a $5.5 billion dollar budget for Fiscal Year 2009-10, a decrease of 18% when compared to the 2008-09 budget.

Seven County of Orange programs were selected to receive a 2009 Achievement Award by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The annual Achievement Award Program recognizes innovative county government programs. The seven Orange County programs to receive the distinction are:

(Santa Ana, CA) - The County of Orange has successfully offered $150 million in Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRAN) at an interest rate of just 0.40%, the lowest interest rate cost to the County on a note of this type in recent years.

(Santa Ana, CA) - The economic impact on the County of Orange of Federal stimulus projects included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is now estimated at over $200 million.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors appointed Steven Eldred as the director of Child Support Services effective June 5.

Orange County Auditor-Controller David E. Sundstrom has been appointed to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) by the Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation.

On Thursday, April 30, the County of Orange proclaimed a local emergency in response to the evolving Influenza A (H1N1), or swine influenza, outbreak in the region. The Director of Emergency Services requested the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to issue the emergency proclamation on behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The County of Orange launched April 1 a new Online Bid Management System capable of giving the County enhanced access to a broader range of registered vendors offering competitive prices.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors appointed Nicholas S. Chrisos as County Counsel effective April 1.

The Board of Supervisors today directed the County Counsel to join Sacramento, San Diego and other Counties in litigation against the California State Controller.

Due to an $8.2 million shortfall primarily resulting from Federal and State revenue reductions and increased expenses, the County of Orange Probation Department will begin the layoff process for 58 employees (including six managers) on Tuesday, Feb. 10th.

The Board of Supervisors, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, unanimously approved the continuance of supplemental pay and provision of health benefits for County employees serving on active military duty.

County Executive Officer Thomas G. Mauk appointed Michael Giancola as the Director of OC Waste & Recycling effective Jan. 30.

County Executive Officer Thomas G. Mauk announced effective immediately that any County employee serving on active military duty will not be subject to layoff.