Orange County HR Chief May Step Down Over Pay Raise Approvals
SANTA ANA (CBS) — The top human resources official in Orange County may be forced to resign after an audit released this week found he had approved raises without justifying them while the department was understaffed.
KNX 1070's Ron Kilgore reports Carl H. Crown, the county director of the Human Resources Department, had been due to retire, but he was asked to stay on another year — but that may all change after the newly-released audit.
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The report cites several examples of mismanagement, including a failure to show critical reports from state officials to county officials.
Steve Danley, the auditor, recommended hiring a contract negotiator to deal with the unions.
Crown accepted some of the criticism in the audit, but he disagreed with the tone.
"I disagree with the overall tone of the report, which suggests that there are severe deficiencies which (the Human Resources Department) has chosen to ignore," Crown said. "Many of the historical references used (e.g. previous audits, reports, etc.) are out-of-date and less relevant in today's changing culture and environment."
Danley's five-month investigation determined that human resource supervisors often violated policies regarding promotions. One employee recommended his own raise, the audit said.
Most management employee performance reviews included raises last year, and only four county managers got "needs improvement" grades.
State regulators as far back as 2004 and again last year warned county officials to clean up how raises and promotions are given, but county supervisors were never told about the reports, according to the audit.
County employees must participate in the county's health plan — even when they are already covered by another plan. Letting employees opt out could save taxpayers $3.8 million, according to the report.
The audit was ordered because it was next on the list, county officials said, adding that nothing specific triggered it.
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