Key Points of the Proposal to Increase CAO’s Power

Ventura County Chief Administrative Officer Harry Hufford is asking the Board of Supervisors to expand his power. His key demands include:

* The power to hire and fire 19 appointed agency and department heads, including the director of the Health Care Agency, the Public Works Agency, the Human Services Agency and the General Services Agency; and the power to issue directives to agency and department heads.

* More control over the county budget, specifically, by taking from the county auditor and giving to the chief administrative officer the responsibility to conduct financial forecasts, arrange debt financing and develop long-range fiscal strategies.

* The creation of a chief financial officer position, under the chief administrator, to handle budgetary matters; and the ability to transfer or add staff to his office to work for the chief financial officer.

* The ability to direct county auditor Tom Mahon to beef up audits of department and agency spending and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.

* The guarantee of a spot at the table whenever labor unions meet with a department head, and the position of chief negotiator in collective bargaining.

* The roles of gatekeeper of public information and media requests, the county’s chief policy strategist and the sole spokesman on budget and debt financing issues as well as news emerging from closed sessions of the board.

* Control over strategy in spending the county’s $260-million tobacco settlement, and health care policy.

* A commitment from the Board of Supervisors to refer items back to the chief administrator when department or agency heads attempt to get policy passed without the chief administrator’s input or approval.

* The power to investigate any agency or department, without notice, and the ability to compel any agency or department head to comply with requests related to such investigation.

* The promise that board members will not meet with department heads without prior knowledge of the chief administrator.

In the coming months, Hufford also will want supervisors to consider:

* Changing the ordinance governing the permanent chief administrative officer and launching the search for his replacement--a permanent county executive officer who would be given those increased powers.

* Turning Ventura County into a charter county, which could give it the ability to privatize more government functions and reduce or merge the functions of department heads.