Supervisor Josie Gonzales

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 24 January 2012 07:08 PM

San Bernardino County supervisors moved forward Tuesday with a proposal to require voter approval of future pension increases but face opposition from employee unions who quickly announced plans for a competing measure aimed at supervisors.

The board agreed to have county staff draft a ballot measure requiring voter approval before retirement benefits for county employees, legislative officers and elected officials could be increased. But final approval is not assured with supervisors split 3-2 on whether to consider the proposal.

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By Joe Nelson, The (San Bernardino County) Sun
Posted: 01/23/2012 03:05:32 PM PST

Two San Bernardino County supervisors are requesting that benefits for all county elected officials, not just the Board of Supervisors, be reduced to be in line with elected officials in other counties.

Supervisors Neil Derry and Janice Rutherford are pushing for the ordinance, which comes less than two weeks after the board approved a similar ordinance that reduced total compensation for future supervisors by roughly $48,000 annually.

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San Bernardino County Auditor/Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Walker

BY IMRAN GHORI
STAFF WRITER
ighori@pe.com

Published: 21 January 2012 05:49 PM

After slashing their own benefits earlier this month, San Bernardino County supervisors on Tuesday will start taking aim at extra compensation for other county-wide elected officials.

The board will vote on a proposal by Supervisors Janice Rutherford and Neil Derry to direct the county administrative and counsel offices to prepare an ordinance that would cut benefit packages for the assessor-recorder, auditor/controller/treasurer-tax collector, district attorney and sheriff. If a majority of supervisors agree, the ordinance will return to the board at a future meeting for a vote.

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Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 11:25 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, while adopting cuts to their own benefits package, wouldn’t go near a proposal by Third District Supervisor Neil Derry to have the cuts apply to all of the county’s elected officials on Tuesday morning.

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Tuesday, January 10, 2012 – 08:30 a.m.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will consider slashing their own lavish benefits package Tuesday morning.

A benefits package unmatched anywhere in the state and possibly country.

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By Mark Gutglueck
Friday, January 6, 2012

Questions continue to dog the second highest ranking member of the county auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector’s office with regard to the role he and a political action committee he controlled played in illegally passing through and laundering money for those convicted of or charged with participation in a bribery and extortion conspiracy.

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Sunday, December 4, 2011 – 12:30 p.m.

Now San Bernardino County supervisors want to cut their benefits package again.

They shouldn’t think twice about.

The benefits package afforded the county’s elected officials is the richest in the state, and can be adjusted by a mere majority vote of the supervisors.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/12/2011 06:12:51 AM PST

The ways money flowed to candidates and political action committees and alleged acts of blackmail are detailed in search warrants in San Bernardino County’s $102 million legal settlement with Rancho Cucamonga developer Colonies Partners LP in November 2006.

The warrants, released last week, also describe what led authorities to suspect a county supervisor’s former chief of staff of criminal activity before he became a witness for the prosecution.

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Spencer

Joe Nelson and Josh Dulaney, Staff Writers
Posted: 11/01/2011 05:59:53 PM PDT

Embattled San Bernardino International Airport developer Scot Spencer has racked up roughly $545,876 in delinquent property taxes since 2005, of which $31,618 has been seized by the county tax collector.

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Spencer

BY KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
STAFF WRITER
kpierceall@pe.com

Published: 26 October 2011 07:00 PM

San Bernardino County tax collectors have seized $31,618 from the developer of San Bernardino International Airport and his related businesses, a fraction of the $544,876 he owes in property taxes, according to the county agency.

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Walker

By Andrew Edwards Staff Writer
Posted: 08/12/2011 06:06:15 PM PDT

It is hard to predict the longterm consequences of Standard & Poor’s downgrade of the San Bernardino County Investment Pool, county Treasurer Larry Walker says.

But no immediate difficulties are seen for agencies using the multi-billion dollar fund, he said.

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SB County’s investment pool gets downgrade
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/09/2011 09:30:12 PM PDT

Standard & Poor’s followed its downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating by downgrading pooled investments of San Bernardino County schools and other agencies.

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Effects of potential downgrading of U.S. government on local agencies is unknown
July 22, 2011 9:09 AM
Natasha Lindstrom
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO • The political stalemate over raising the national debt ceiling has triggered rating agencies to place the San Bernardino County Investment Pool on review for possible downgrades.

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10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, July 21, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A San Bernardino County civil grand jury is calling on the auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector’s office to conduct more audits of county departments and special districts.

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Many SB County retirees receive generous pensions
09:42 PM PDT on Saturday, July 9, 2011
By IMRAN GHORI, JIM MILLER and DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise

The San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association has 446 retirees who receive more than $100,000 a year in pension benefits, with some getting more than their salary when they were part of the workforce, according to newly released records.

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By Joe Nelson Staff Writer
Created: 07/07/2011 07:58:04 PM PDT

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors should consult with appropriate state agencies to determine if the merger of two county offices last year created a conflict of interest, the Grand Jury has recommended in its annual report.

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Water bill error cited in new debt
Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/23/2011 05:02:54 PM PDT

GRAND TERRACE – County auditors report that the city owes more than $2 million to the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, worsening an already precarious budget and possibly imperiling efforts to sell bonds for city projects.

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Leaders didn’t think CalPERS increases would be a problem
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/23/2011 08:03:04 PM PDT

Unions wanted them. Pension managers said they were affordable. Elected officials approved them.

But improved pension benefits granted to public employees over the past 12 years are now costing local governments dearly. And for that, officials acknowledge, there’s plenty of blame to go around.

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Thursday, February 17, 2011 – 12:40 p.m.
Last Modified: February 20, 2011 – 11:35 a.m.

The government pension fund for the County of San Bernardino, once-renowned for it’s long-term investment savvy, has taken a hard fall over the past few years.

A fall, the fund is still reeling from to this day.

A fall, now affecting county taxpayers and employees.

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Tuesday, February 8, 2011 – 09:15 a.m.

Defiance! Defensiveness! Politics!

That’s what seems to be coming from San Bernardino County Treasurer Larry Walker.

Walker is currently managing trustee of the San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA), while the fund searches for a new executive director and chief investment officer.

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CEO Greg Devereaux, Treasurer Larry Walker and Director of Governmental Relations Mark Kirk

.

10:00 PM PST on Monday, February 7, 2011
Cassie MacDuff

A new report on a growing deficit in the San Bernardino County employee pension fund has the Board of Retirement on the defensive.

Managing Trustee Larry Walker, the county treasurer, on Friday called the report an “attack piece,” but quickly backpedaled, saying the staff member who compiled it may have missed the big picture: Over 28 years, the fund’s earnings have averaged 9 percent a year.

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Monday, January 24, 2011 – 11:10 a.m.

All five members of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors have now declined a two percent pay increase as prescribed by Charter Measure P.

A good move on their part considering the county budget deficit, their current benefits package, and demands the county will be placing on employees later this spring.

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10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County supervisors say more needs to be done to control rising pension costs as they approved a $16.4 million increase this week.

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09:02 AM PST on Tuesday, January 4, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

Four top San Bernardino County officials began new terms of office Monday.

Sheriff Rod Hoops and Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector Larry Walker marked the occasion with late morning and noon swearing-in ceremonies at the County Government Center.

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Saturday, January 1, 2011 – 08:00 p.m.

Many of San Bernardino County’s elected officials have decided not to forgo their pay increases.

Even though the county is looking at millions of dollars in new budget cuts this year and most employees have already voted to cancel previously negotiated raises.

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10:00 PM PST on Saturday, January 1, 2011

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

The San Bernardino County clerk-recorder’s office will be formally transferred to the assessor Monday in the final part of a series of mergers approved in early 2010.

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2 promoted as merger of county offices continues

Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/24/2010 03:51:00 PM PDT

San Bernardino County Chief Deputy Recorder De Ana Thompson and Assistant Recorder Matt Brown have been moved into new positions as a merger of the Auditor-Controller-Recorder’s and Treasurer/Tax Collector’s offices moves forward.

Thompson, a county employee for 14 years and chief deputy recorder since 2001, was recently promoted to assistant recorder, and Brown was promoted to assistant auditor-controller recorder.

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Larry Walker

Sunday, October 24, 2010 – 01:00 p.m.

What a tangled web.

Last week we published a story here at InlandPolitics.com on San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller-Recorder-Tax Collector Larry Walker’s hiring and subsequent promotion of Matt Brown to be his second-in-command.

A position for which Brown possesses no apparent qualification to hold.

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Brown

Thursday, October 21, 2010 – 09:45 a.m.

I never thought I would be saying Larry Walker and hard ball politics in the same sentence.

But it seems Walker has decided to play.

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010 – 01:00 p.m.
Last Updated: October 14, 2010 – 06:30 a.m.

The blame game has already started related to the various allegations swirling around San Bernardino County’s government pension fund.

Employees and trustees of the San Bernardino County Employees Retirement Association (SBCERA) are now pointing fingers and casting blame for the now-public missteps at the pension fund.

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Walker

Saturday, October 9, 2010 – 05:30 p.m.

The San Bernardino County Employees Retirment Asociation (SBCERA) has announced the appointment of Auditor-Controller-Treasurer Larry Walker as managing trustee to oversee the duties of interim executive director, and Donald Pierce, senior investment officer, is appointed as interim chief investment officer.

The appointments come on the heals of the resignation of executive director Timothy Barrett.

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July 22, 2010 5:38 PM
Natasha Lindstrom

SAN BERNARDINO • Two months after San Bernardino County placed him on paid leave amid harassment allegations, the 2nd District’s former top aide has taken a new county position as an assistant recorder.

Matt Brown, previously chief of staff to 2nd District Supervisor Paul Biane, was put on administrative leave in early May, days after Brown sent his boss a letter alleging he was being threatened and retaliated against for cooperating with a corruption investigation. The environment was so hostile, Brown wrote in the letter, that it led to him seeking medical help.

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10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A former top aide to San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane who has been out on paid leave for two months is taking a new position as assistant recorder.

Larry Walker, the county’s auditor/controller/recorder/treasurer/tax collector, announced in a memo to his staff Tuesday that Matt Brown, until recently Biane’s long-time chief of staff, had joined his office.

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All appointed and elected San Bernardino County incumbents running for county-wide offices successfully secured election or reelection last night.

Results as of 3:53 A.M. on 06/09/2010.
Office                   Candidate          Pct %      Votes-
Sheriff-Coroner          Rod Hoops**        66.72 %    88,021
                         Paul Schrader      21.61 %    28,507
                         Mark Averbeck      11.67 %    15,394
District Attorney        Michael Ramos**    53.72 %    72,387
                         Bob Conaway        27.31 %    36,792
                         Frank Guzman       18.97 %    25,558
Assessor-Recorder        Dennis Draeger**   73.25 %    95,129
                         Alfred Palazzo     26.75 %    34,737
Auditor-Controller       Larry Walker**     70.97 %    94,242
                         Ensen Mason        29.03 %    38,542
Sup.of County Schools    Gary Thomas**      60.27 %    78,828
                         Arturo Delgado     22.32 %    29,192
                         Rita Ramirez-Dean  17.42 %    22,782

All appointed and elected San Bernardino County incumbents successfully secured election or reelection this evening.

The following absentee results have been posted.

Results as of 10:32 P.M. on 06/08/2010.

Sheriff                  Rod Hoops**        67.45 %    43,975   Votes
                         Paul Schrader      20.71 %    13,502   Votes
                         Mark Averbeck      11.84 %     7,720   Votes
District Attorney        Michael Ramos**    54.90 %    36,655   Votes
                         Bob Conaway        28.33 %    18,913   Votes
                         Frank Guzman       16.77 %    11,199   Votes
Assessor-Recorder        Dennis Draeger**   74.96 %    48,467   Votes
                         Alfred Palazzo     25.04 %    16,192   Votes
Auditor-Controller       Larry Walker**     72.42 %    47,844   Votes
                         Ensen Mason        27.58 %    18,225   Votes
Sup.of County Schools    Gary Thomas**      63.13 %    40,827   Votes
                         Arturo Delgado     19.55 %    12,642   Votes
                         Rita Ramirez-Dean  17.32 %    11,199   Votes

Expect all county-wide officials to be either elected or reelected on June 8th.

Most of San Bernardino County’s elected or appointed incumbents had to run at least a basic campaign this year. Something that is healthy.

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10:00 PM PDT on Monday, March 15, 2010

By DUANE W. GANG, IMRAN GHORI and JIM MILLER
The Press-Enterprise

Inland voters now know who their choices will be for the upcoming June 8 primary election after Friday’s filing deadline for candidates.

For Inland legislative seats, these candidates returned filing papers.

In the 62nd Assembly District incumbent Wilmer Amina Carter, of Rialto, will face Gil Navarro, of San Bernardino, in the Democratic primary. Republican Jean Ensley, of Rialto, also is in the race.

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The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors initiated the process to abolish the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator and merge its parts with other elected county officials at their scheduled meeting today.

Today’s initial action by county supervisors, which will be final on January 26, and take effect thirty days later, creates the following offices.

Sheriff-Coroner               to   Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
Auditor-Controller-Recorder   to   Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector
Assessor                      to   Assessor-Recorder
.

*The Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector will also assume the duties of Director of Central Collections.

*The Assessor will also assume the duties of County Clerk and  have control over County Archives.

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A decent idea to save a significant amount of money has graced San Bernardino County.

The proposal by the San Bernardino County Administrative Office to consolidate the Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator into the Auditor-Controller-Recorder is a well thought out idea. The second part of the proposal to be taken up by county supervisors this Tuesday is the County Clerk, Recorder, and archive functions will be folded into the elected office of Assessor.

The proposed consolidations make sense and maintains those functions as elected offices.

The formation of the Office of the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator is essentially the creation of what is commonly known as a Public Finance Officer in many jurisdictions.

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10:00 PM PST on Saturday, January 9, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

San Bernardino County supervisors will consider a proposal Tuesday to turn the duties of treasurer-tax collector over to the auditor-controller’s office.

Combining the two independently elected positions would save up to $1 million a year at a time when the county is anticipating a large budget shortfall due to declining sales and property taxes, according to a report from Assistant County Administrator Dean Arabatzis.

The proposal has been harshly criticized by former Treasurer-Tax Collector Dick Larsen, who resigned in July after 11 years in the position. He called it a back-room deal that officials are trying to sneak by before the June election.

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Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/08/2010 10:36:48 PM PST

San Bernardino County’s elected treasurer/tax collector position would be eliminated and folded into the Auditor-Controller Recorder, Public Administrator and Assessor’s offices, under a plan being considered by the Board of Supervisors.

The move could save the county between $500,000 and $1million a year by eliminating about 10 positions through attrition and consolidations, county spokesman David Wert said.

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