Contract negotiations between the Board of Supervisors and the OC Deputy Sheriffs Association (AOCDS) have stalled over two key issues: retiree medical costs and the Health Insurance Trust Fund. The AOCDS represents the 1,800 sworn officers who staff the jails and patrol the unincorporated areas and 12 cities that contract with the county.

With Supervisor Moorlach now a part of the negotiations, Pat Bates joining us next week and another Supervisor to be elected next month, new eyes on the Board are taking a fresh look at the contract proposals.

Retiree Medical Costs: The average retirement age is now down to 53 for deputies. Retirees are also living longer. These two factors have made retiree medical costs unsustainable. The total unfunded liability for all county employees reached $1.4 billion before all other employee groups agreed to reforms that reduced it to approximately $598 million. The deputies’ share of that unfunded liability is about $239 million. They are being asked to accept similar reforms that all other county employees have already approved. This unfunded liability could hamper future raises of working deputies or require substantial cuts in future county services. The time for reform is now.

Raises: Saving money on retiree medical costs will allow for more generous raises for current deputies. The exact figures are subject to ongoing negotiation, but pay raises will be made easier by reducing the retiree medical liability.

Trust Fund Audit: The union’s Health Insurance Trust Fund receives $13.2 million annually in public funds. This demands complete accountability. Supervisor Smith and I opposed this contract in 2003 because it lacked any reporting requirement. In 2005, the union agreed to an annual “certified financial report” which was unanimously approved by the Board. At that time I welcomed this disclosure requirement, but it is not as thorough as an audit.

We need more complete information on relative medical costs of actives and retirees. We need to know how the $300,000 annual “administration fee” is being spent and what brokerage fees are included in the insurance costs.

County Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom (re-elected without opposition in June) is working closely with the Board to specify all the information we need. Sundstrom recommends the audit be modeled after that of a similar trust fund run by the OC Firefighters’ Assoc. Without such disclosure, the Board could vote to halt payments to the Trust and provide health insurance directly to the deputies, as we do all other county employees.

Ten candidates have qualified to run for Lou Correa’s vacated First District Supervisorial seat, which includes Santa Ana, Westminster and most of Garden Grove. The Special Election is set for February 6. A plurality wins it all. There will be no run-off.

That means as few as 4,000 votes could choose the next Supervisor. Do the math. Out of 605,000 district residents, 200,000 are registered voters. In a special election, a 10% turn-out is likely. With barely 20,000 votes spread among 10 candidates, a 20% share could win—4,000 votes.

Each candidate is claiming a niche, as defined by city, ethnicity, gender or political party.

Santa Ana: Carlos Bustamante, Santa Ana City Councilman; Brett Franklin, Former Santa Ana City Councilman; Tom Umberg, Former State Assemblyman; Lupe Moreno, Santa Ana Library Commissioner.

Garden Grove: Janet Nguyen, Garden Grove City Councilwoman; Mark Rosen, Garden Grove City Councilman; Trung Nguyen; Garden Grove Unified School Trustee;Benny Diaz, Garden Grove Neighborhood Improvement Commissioner.

Westminster: Kermit Marsh, Westminster City Councilman; Larry Phan, TV Producer.

All are welcome for my joint swearing in with Pat Bates on Tuesday, January 9. The reception begins at 8:30 a.m. with the oaths given at 9:30 a.m. Following the ceremonies a new Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board of Supervisors will be chosen.

The festivities will be at the OC Hall of Administration, 10 Civic Center Plaza ( 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd.) in Santa Ana, just west of the historic old red brick county courthouse.

NORBY CALENDAR: Upcoming Speaking Engagements / Meetings:

January 4 (Thurs) “OC Outlook” / Probus Luncheon & Guest Speaker (Retired Business Executives); 12:00 -1:30 p.m.; Fullerton Ebell Club, 313 Laguna Rd.

January 5 (Mon) Swearing-in of New Members / Chair & Vice Chair Elections; OC Transportation Authority Board Meeting; 10:00 a.m.; 550 S. Main St., Orange.

January 9 (Tue) Norby/Bates Swearing In / OC Board of Supervisors Meeting; Reception: 8:30 a.m.; Ceremony: 9:30 a.m.; Hall of Administration, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana.

January 10 (Wed) OC Fire Authority Budget & Finance Committee; 12:00 Noon; Irvine.

OC Purchasing Task Force Meeting; 3:00 p.m. Hall of Administration, Conf. Room. A.

Fullerton Chamber of Commerce Mixer; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; Farmers & Merchants Bank; 315 N. Harbor Blvd.

January 11 (Thur) OCTA Transit Planning & Operations Committee Meeting; 7:45 a.m.; OCTA Building; 550 S. Main St., Orange.

Inaugural Meeting of the Civic Center Fellowship; 12:00-1:00 p.m.; First Presbyterian Church; Broadway & Chestnut, Santa Ana.