06:45 PM PST on Tuesday, January 5, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG
The Press-Enterprise

Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, elected by his colleagues Tuesday as the board’s new chairman, said declining revenues will remain one of the chief concerns for the county this year.

As chairman, Ashley acts as the county’s top elected official, runs the board’s weekly meetings and has the power to declare emergencies, sign documents and handle other duties on the county’s behalf.

Supervisor Bob Buster took over from Ashley as the board’s vice chairman.

“In order to be effective you have to establish goals,” Ashley said in taking the over the chairman’s gavel from Supervisor Jeff Stone. “Without goals you don’t know what you are striving to attain or the direction you are taking.”

Ashley said maintaining public safety amid the county’s budget woes will be a top priority. In particular, finding the needed money to open and operate the 582 new jail beds at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning is at the top of the list.

Undersheriff Valerie Hill said Monday it will take 142 people, including sworn deputies and support staff, to run the jail expansion, set for completion in March. It is expected to cost $12 million a year to operate, she said.

In other business Tuesday, supervisors:

Delayed a vote on a new law that would make landlords pay relocation expenses if county code enforcement officers evict a tenant because the property was not properly maintained. The board will revisit the issue Jan. 26.

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