Politics & Government

County CEO To Resign Oct. 4

Bill Luna, who has been the county CEO since August 2008, confirmed his resignation during a special closed session convened by Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Buster.

Riverside County Executive Officer Bill Luna will step down Oct. 4 from the position he has held for three years, it was announced today.

Luna, who has been the county CEO since August 2008, confirmed his resignation during a special closed session convened by Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Buster.

"After almost 30 years working for Riverside County, it is the right time in my life to look ahead,'' Luna said in a statement. "The county still faces difficult financial decisions, but the budget has been adopted for the coming year, a step I wanted to be sure about before making this move. I want to thank the Board of Supervisors and my co-workers for their efforts and their support. I wish you well.''

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Luna submitted a letter last week to each supervisor saying he no longer wished to remain in the post, without specifying his reasons. He left open the possibility of an "employment contract'' with the county, provided there was unanimous support among all five board members.

The roughly 15-minute closed session ended with the announcement of his imminent departure and the temporary return of former county CEO Larry Parrish, whom Luna replaced.

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"Most every county CEO across this state is facing very difficult challenges balancing their budgets with what most are seeing as not-too-promising revenue projections for many years to come,'' said Supervisor John Tavaglione, the board's vice chairman.

"These are very difficult times we're facing, and Bill did a yeoman's job trying to find solutions while maintaining adequate service levels and responding to the demands of the Board of Supervisors,'' he said.

"Working for five bosses and balancing their demands is never easy. We wish him the best and thank him for his career-long service to this county.''

According to Executive Office spokesman Ray Smith, Parrish has agreed to work without pay for the next three months while the county recruits a permanent replacement.

Luna, 56, got his start in county government as project manager for the Department of Community Action in 1982, and was an administrative manager in the county's Administrative Office -- later the Executive Office -- between 1986-1990.

He transferred to the Sheriff's Department, where he became director of administrative services before returning to the Executive Office in 2004. Prior to becoming CEO, Luna was the county's chief financial officer.

He took the helm as the county's financial condition was beginning to deteriorate because of a dramatic downturn in the real estate market. Over the last three years, property tax receipts have plummeted more than 25 percent, and the county's reserves have been cut in half.

During the Sept. 13 board meeting, the CEO revealed that the county would end the current fiscal year $80 million in the red, dashing hopes that a three-year-long deficit reduction plan would result in a structurally balanced budget.

Negotiations are under way with public employee unions to implement pension changes and other cost-cutting measures to hold down the county's expenses and prevent layoffs. --City News Service


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