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Orange County Board of Supervisors Elects New Leadership Amidst Budget Challenges
Supervisor Doug Chaffee is re-elected as Chair, with Supervisor Katrina Foley as Vice Chair, as the county faces significant budget deficits.
In a unanimous decision on January 14, 2025, the Orange County Board of Supervisors re-elected Supervisor Doug Chaffee of the Fourth District as Chair for the 2025 term. Supervisor Katrina Foley of the Fifth District was also re-elected as Vice Chair. This marks the second term for both supervisors in these leadership roles, with Chaffee having previously served as Chair in 2022 and as Vice Chair in 2021 and 2024.
Supervisor Chaffee represents a diverse constituency, including parts of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, and Stanton. His re-election as Chair underscores the Board's confidence in his leadership during a period of fiscal challenges. Supervisor Foley, who represents Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and other areas in District 5, has a history of public service, including serving as the City of Costa Mesa's first directly elected Mayor from 2018 to 2022.
The Board's leadership change comes at a critical time for Orange County, which is grappling with significant budget deficits. In preparation for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Annual Operating Budget, the county projected a $19 million operating deficit. Despite implementing service reductions, the county continued to face a nearly $8 million projected operating deficit when the budget was adopted on June 25, 2024.
To address these financial challenges, the City of Orange has initiated the process for a General Municipal Election scheduled for November 3, 2026. The election will include positions for Mayor, Councilmembers from Districts 1, 4, and 6, and potentially a one-cent sales tax measure aimed at mitigating the budget shortfall. The estimated cost to hold the election, including the ballot measure, is $218,500, which will be included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 General Fund budget.
The proposed one-cent sales tax measure is part of a broader strategy to address the county's budgetary issues. The City of Orange has been grappling with significant budget challenges for the past several years, and this measure represents a proactive approach to securing additional revenue to maintain essential services.
As the county continues to navigate these fiscal challenges, the leadership of Supervisors Chaffee and Foley will be pivotal in steering Orange County toward financial stability. Their re-election as Chair and Vice Chair reflects a commitment to effective governance during a period of economic uncertainty.ℹ️ Researched and summarized from public reporting. Check the sources below.
