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As we approached the office of OC Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street for a business meeting this morning we noticed a huge simulated check on a wall payable to the County of Orange from the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office dated July 1st, 2008. The amount of the check reads $905,936 with a memo on the bottom which reads “Underspent Budget for FY 07-08.” That, my fellow readers, is very impressive.
During the meeting with Chriss and Assistant Treasurer Jennifer Burkhart he proudly discussed the performance of their streamlined department
As a point of information I need to mention that as of June 6th they collected $4.5 billion from the tax role or roughly 96 percent which is higher than our neighboring counties of Riverside and San Bernardino.
While the state struggles with staffing levels Chriss pointed out that he has reduced his department staff from 106 budgeted positions in the 3rd quarter of 2006 to 93 in the 4th quarter of 2008 and currently is performing their tasks with only 84 positions.
On Wed., in my post on the Democratic budget proposal to increase state taxes, I reported that “Standards & Poor’s has put us [the state of CA] on their credit watch list. Compare that rating to the Dec 1. 2008 Standard’s & Poor’s Fund Ratings of two Orange County Money Market Funds which they rated ‘AAAm.’
Reading from that S&P publication it states “Standards & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that it assigned its ‘AAAm’ principal stability fund rating to Orange County Money Market Fund and Orange County Educational Money Market Fund–the first ‘AAAm’ ratings assigned to a California county government investment pool.
The ratings are based on our analysis of the funds’ high credit quality, low market-price exposure, and management.”
It is worth pointing out that when we send our property taxes to the Tax Collector that money does not remain in Orange County. As a “donor” county almost 90 percent is sent to the state capital of which 53% comes back in the form of education funding.
So when you read that the legislature is considering taking our local Prop 42 gas taxes or “borrowing” from our property taxes, as permitted under Prop 1A, remember that they already get the lions share of our property tax revenue.
Based on his local success at the county level perhaps Chriss should sit down with the “big five” in Sacramento and show them how to cut the size and cost of our state government programs before they begin issuing IOU’s next month.
Eliminating 20 positions and doing the same or better job is indeed impressive — why couldn’t Moorlach have done that?
Well, you just met with the only person with a larger ego than John Moorlach – and that ain’t easy! Is there an explanation for how the work gets done with fewer people? Technology? Contracting out? Less work to do than there used to be? They were fat and overstaffed under Moorlach? As for S & P ratings, they should in reality carry little weight. Look at S & P’s ratings of AIG, Enron and others just before they collapsed. They had OC rated highly just before it filed for bankruptcy in 1994. In fact – not sure about this but – I think S& P wound up settling out of court with OC in the bankruptcy, forking over $20 million or so for its inaccurate work (while of course admitting no wrong doing), did it not? Don’t let Street’s self-promoting antics deceive. Remember what a hero Citron was in the early 90’s?
been around a while
So your opinion is that the state approaching a credit watch list should not be of any concern?
Perhaps Chriss’s department should simply spend any leftover budget funds. Have you been following the Orange County budget challenge as it relates to spending cuts and layoffs such as the OCSD?
Based on their performance the TTC office is not one of the departments in that grouping.
Sometimes we simply have to acknowledge individuals when they are doing a good job.
And yes, investing in technology is one way to make your department more efficient.
No. 3. To me Street’s alleged performance and the mess the State of California is in are two seperate issues. Of course the mess California is in should be of concern – but I cannot buy into turning Street loose in Sacramento as the financial savior of the State. I have followed Street’s press related to his bankruptcy trusteeship of Fruehauf, including allegations that company funds were used to pay for his botox treatments, and that coupled with his performance in OC to date, including a reported $1 million County office remodel, has left me with a very untrusting feeling. You may wish to overlook these issues and be dazzled by his finance-speak, I do not. Let’s see how the litigation against him for that Fruehauf chapter of his life plays out before embracing him as a guru of anything. He would not be the first bright person to succumb to the “opportunities” that something like a bankruptcy truteeship povide.
been around a while.
Help me out here. Are you cherry picking to make a point?
You write: “To me Street’s alleged performance and the mess the State of California is in are two seperate issues.” However you interject “his bankruptcy trusteeship of Fruehauf” which my friend is also a “separate issue.”
No one is perfect, starting with me.
There is one area I need to verify so a true “apples to apples” comparison can be made. I am referring to his department staffing that has offsetting calendar dates in the data which he provided.
Just one question: “How many lunches do any of these guys get with Merrill-Lynch or Goldman-Sachs?”
The new carpet in his office and the big screen TV’s were important too. “You have to get your mind right before you can do a good job!”
“What we have here is a failure to communicate!”…..and oh, by the way..is it another election cycle coming already?
Larry,I do no more cherry picking than you – in fact all my comments about Street reflect on his character and that is the relationship. To me this is important. I will stop this debate as neither of us are going to convince the other – just be cautious who you endorse as it may indeed come back to haunt you. Remember the Citron fan club prior to 1994. Good luck!
Street is one of the few elected officials who actually acts responsibly with our tax money. He should run this out of control state.
been around a while
This post was not an endorsement of Chriss Street. All the claims included in this post can be found in a document which Chriss provided. As stated above there is one area that I will research that deals with the issue of staffing levels using an “apples to apples” timeframe.
And no, I was not part of the Citron fan club. In fact I was/am one of the Moorlach supporters when John ran for TTC and later BOS.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to spend time in Elba, Alabama. Not exactly OC California.
But the thing in common was Chriss Street.
This guy BURNED A TOWN FULL OF PEOPLE. Men, Women and Children who believed his BS, allthewhile he flew by JET in and out of town.
THis guy was the Gordon Gecko of Elba.
Now, ceartainly that does’nt mean much to the guy living in Mission Veijo or Yorba Linda.
But, This guy lied to hard woking Americans.
I DEFY ANYONE TO DEFEND THIS MAN’S ACTIONS IN ELBA, HIS COMMENTS HIS THIEVERY.
And then vote for him.
HE is in my book the biggest piece of shit it OC governnment FIRST HAND.
duplojohn.
While I am not familiar with the Double A Trailer Sales Inc Vs Dorsey Trailer Co. Inc. litigation I have taken the time to do some quick research and discovered that Double A Trailer Sales Inc., and its president Mark Wannamaker, prevailed with a judgement entered against Dorsey on March 20th of this year.
Ref. Bankruptcy Court Case #04-32662-WRS Chapter 11.
From the Internet data which I read Chriss Street was the manager of Dorsey. As debtor in possession the Dorsey operation was acquired by Fruehauf Trailer Corp. Retirement Plan in 2001.
While Mr. Wannamaker did not speak favorably about Chriss, not being there nor following the details does not pass the “Trust, But Verify” rule