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Orange County supervisors approve retroactive pay adjustment for acting county executive amid public objection
Summary
The Board unanimously approved a retroactive salary change for the acting county executive—raising the base to $410,599 with an estimated total compensation of $624,878—after a public commenter criticized the timing and size of the package; supervisors said the pay was comparable to other large counties.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a retroactive salary adjustment for the county executive serving in an acting capacity, setting a reported base salary of $410,599 and an estimated total compensation of $624,878.
The item was introduced as a supplemental agenda item (S22B) read into the record by the clerk as "County Executive Office approved retroactive salary increase for Michelle Geary, serving as acting county executive officer effective 07/12/2024." A public speaker identified as Michelle criticized the timing of the item and the compensation package, saying, "A benefits package of $214,878 per year? Are you kidding me? What fiduciary duty are you guys using?" The speaker also referenced national ranges for county executive director pay and expressed frustration that the board pushed the item until after closed session so fewer members of the public could comment.
County counsel explained the Brown Act requirement (SB 1436) for an oral report when a local agency executive's compensation is recommended for change and described the proposal: a $410,599 base salary and an estimated $624,878 in total compensation—the same total amount previously paid to former County Executive Officer Frank Kim. Supervisor Foley moved the recommended action, praising the acting executive’s handling of several crises since stepping in; other supervisors spoke in support, citing the county’s size, cost of living and the need for continuity. The chair called for opposition or abstentions and, seeing none, announced the item "carries unanimously." The record contains inconsistent spellings and references to the acting executive (the closed-session report named "Michelle Aguirre" as the interim county executive, the supplemental item and some comment alternatives used spellings including "Michelle Geary" and "Michelle Gary," and counsel referred to "Mr. Geary"); counsel and supervisors characterized the compensation as consistent with comparable counties.
The board did not read a detailed roll call into the record beyond announcing the item carried unanimously. The clerk and counsel said finalized personnel paperwork will be executed in accordance with county practices.
