Joe Nelson, The Sun
Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Stephen Wall, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 06/21/16 – 10:09 PM PDT |

Inland public employees aren’t just earning a paycheck, but collecting hefty compensation packages that often dwarf their base salaries, an open-records advocacy group announced Tuesday.

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Shortfall could reach $100 million if cost-cutting measures aren’t adopted

Published: March 30, 2016 – Updated: 11:07 p.m.

Freezing spending, holding the line on across-the-board raises and shifting existing money are key to Riverside County’s plan to stop escalating costs from drying up reserves and causing a $100 million shortfall.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

Riverside County Executive Officer Jay Orr

May 9, 2014

It’s clear a civil grand jury struck a nerve in Riverside County government with a report critical of how county supervisors run a program intended to help worthy causes.

County Executive Officer Jay Orr used part of the Board of Supervisors’ May 6 meeting to critique the process leading to the report about Community Improvement Designation funds, which are allocated equally to each supervisor and typically spent on nonprofits and community events.

To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.

June 14, 2013; 05:38 PM

The pot of money directly controlled by Riverside County supervisors is expected to grow for the first time in at least five years, another sign the county’s economy is bouncing back.

To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.

Riverside County Finance Officer Ed Corser warned the Board of Supervisors the county could face a budget shortfall of around $50 million next fiscal year, and that’s not counting the hospital’s money troubles.

April 01, 2013; 05:10 PM

Riverside County’s budget shortfall could approach a combined $102 million after July 1, a chasm fueled in party by a projected $39 million gap between what the Sheriff’s Department requested and what county administrators say they can afford.

To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press Enterprise, click here.

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 11 June 2012 12:04 PM

For the first time in several years, Riverside County supervisors approved a budget that doesn’t need savings to stay balanced.

The vote on the preliminary budget for fiscal 2012-13 came after a public hearing Monday, June 11, in which Sheriff Stan Sniff asked supervisors to let him recruit and hire more deputies for unincorporated areas, where budget cuts have taken a bite out of coverage.

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BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 08 June 2012 06:59 PM

Riverside County supervisors will review a recommended budget that, unlike recent editions, doesn’t dip into reserves to make ends meet.

But that doesn’t mean the spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 will stay balanced. A projected $10 million drop in property tax revenues could open another hole, and at least 229 county workers are losing their jobs as the county faces a sluggish economic recovery and tens of millions of dollars in new spending mandates.

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Dead on arrival to the Riverside County supervisors’ desks, that is. Even raises for lower-level management appear iffy now

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 04 June 2012 07:16 PM

Riverside County’s sheriff and one of the county’s largest unions have joined other critics — including most county supervisors — in attacking a plan to raise elected leaders’ pay amid ongoing layoffs.

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BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com

Published: 01 June 2012 11:21 PM

Though Riverside County is in the midst of laying off nearly 230 employees to balance its budget, its supervisors are poised to consider giving county elected officials salary hikes of more than 25 percent over the next three years.

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Riverside County already is letting go 229 employees but labor and jail-related costs bring on more cuts

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 01 May 2012 07:45 PM

Despite an anticipated economic rebound, more layoffs of Riverside County employees will be needed as the county grapples with tens of millions of dollars in future expenses, the county’s top executive said Tuesday.

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BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 17 April 2012 05:53 PM

Riverside County’s new county executive officer will earn more than $275,000 a year under a compensation package approved by supervisors Tuesday.

Unanimously and with little conversation, the Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the recommended pay and benefits for Jay Orr, who is being promoted from assistant county executive officer. Orr, 55, will occupy the CEO’s seat on the supervisor dais next week.

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Jay Orr, County Executive Officer for Riverside County./CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 13 April 2012 05:53 PM

Riverside County’s newly appointed CEO could be paid a salary equal to that of his predecessor’s, according to a proposal to be discussed by county supervisors Tuesday.

Jay Orr, chosen last week to oversee a county government with nearly 18,000 employees, would be paid $275,546, the same as former CEO Bill Luna, and would be entitled to $16,900 in deferred compensation. The pay and benefits package is outlined in a recommendation from county Human Resources Director Barbara Olivier.

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Jay Orr, County Executive Officer for Riverside County./CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

BY JEFF HORSEMAN
STAFF WRITER
jhorseman@pe.com

Published: 10 April 2012 02:07 PM

A 25-year veteran of Riverside County government has been promoted to the county’s top administrative post.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday named Jay Orr, 55, county executive officer. The vote was 4-1 in closed session with Supervisor Jeff Stone dissenting.

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