Hollister
– The County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to rescind one
of the budget controls it imposed on the District Attorney’s office
a year ago.
Hollister – The County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to rescind one of the budget controls it imposed on the District Attorney’s office a year ago.
Those controls were the subject of a lawsuit filed by former District Attorney John Sarsfield, who argued that the board was stripping his office’s independence and trying to block his investigation of the anonymous group Los Valientes.
The supervisors approved the restrictions in March 2006 after Sarsfield asked for a $50,000 augmentation to his budget. One of those controls, the supervisors’ line-item authority of the DA’s services and supplies budget, was unanimously rescinded; the other restrictions, including requirements that the DA seek board approval before hiring outside attorneys or going over budget in a specific category, are still in place, according to County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson.
Thompson said the county dropped line-item control because the current DA’s spending is within budget.
“It’s not considered necessary anymore,” Thompson said.
Sarsfield told the Free Lance in February that he doesn’t care what happens with the lawsuit now that he is out of office. The suit is being overseen by Sarsfield’s successor, District Attorney Candice Hooper.
Hooper said she can’t comment on the suit, because she plans to meet with a county attorney on April 2 to discuss a possible resolution.
“I’ll be happy to say more next week,” she said.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho, who supported the budget controls passed last year, said some of the measures were part of a larger effort to reduce the county’s litigation expenses.
“It was really something that was a priority for all of us,” Botelho said.
All department requests for outside legal services must be approved by County Counsel Dennis Le Clere, but the requirement for board approval is limited to the DA’s office.
Botelho said that with Sarsfield out of office, he’s no longer worried about the DA’s spending.
“At this point, I believe (Hooper) is very budget-conscious,” he said.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
