Department Overview

The position of chief administrative officer was established by ordinance in 1938 to assist the Board of Supervisors in handling the mounting administrative details of the County. The office is responsible for making recommendations to the Board that will result in cost-efficient programs that will better serve the public, the Board and County departments.

In 2007 the Board of Supervisors changed the title of the office to the Chief Executive Office and delegated additional responsibilities, including direct supervision over 31 of the 37 departments. While the other eight departments -- Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Community Development Commission, County Counsel, District Attorney, Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors, Fire, and Sheriff -- are not direct reports, they work closely with the CEO.

The CEO ensures Board policies and priorities are followed, monitors the departments' spending, and recommends to the Board what the departments' budgets should be each year.

The responsibilities of the CEO are wide-ranging, including:

• Preparing budget and operational recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
• Monitoring and controlling countywide expenditures.
• Analyzing and advocating legislation.
• Coordinating capital projects; debt management; asset, leasing and space management.
• Performing demographic and geographic research.
• Coordinating emergency preparedness activities and cost recovery efforts following major disasters.
• Administering insurance management programs.
• Addressing unincorporated area issues.
• Handling centralized security management for employees and facilities.
• Advising Board and departments on international protocol issues.
• Managing the County's employee relations program and compensation/classification systems.
• Coordinating centralized marketing programs.
• Coordinating centralized workplace programs, such as ridesharing, saving bonds, charity and volunteers.
• Initiating and promoting activities which provide information about the County to the public.
• Providing centralized photographic and graphic arts services.

To carry out these responsibilities, the CEO has established an organizational structure with five deputy chief executive officers in charge of operations, children and families well-being, community and municipal services, health and mental health, and public safety; and two assistant chief executive officers in charge of budget and operations, financial and asset management and intergovernmental relations. The heads of these divisions report directly to the CEO and the chief deputy CEO.

The 2010-11 CEO department budget is $35,504,000 with 501 budgeted positions.