League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 5, 2013 Election
	Ron Galperin Answers Questions Candidate for Controller; City of Los Angeles

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What is the single most important issue facing the Controller’s Office today, and how would you deal with it?

Increasing efficiency, accountability and performance is essential to solving L.A.'s ongoing deficits. Having chaired the Commission on Revenue Efficiency (CORE), I am the only candidate for Controller who has detailed $450 million in real annual efficiencies, revenues and savings.

2. The Controller serves an important audit function. What departments or programs would you prioritize for auditing?

Auditing is an important function of the Controller -- but audits by themselves don't result in change. As Controller, I will: · Meet personally with each department/bureau management team that is to be audited + and develop an action plan. · Compare how we are doing with other government agencies and private industry -- and ensure the adoption of best practices. · Focus on the changes that can achieve the most "bang for the buck". · Craft audit recommendations that are do-able and proven as effective. · Report in greater depth about the follow-ups and performance of audited departments. · Recognize excellence as well as shortcomings of particular departments. The role of Controller isn't just to critique and "beat up" on departments + rather to be a part of the solutions. · Work with other elected officials to make their follow up on audits easier and more timely. · Create and partner with community and business advisory councils. · Continue the annual survey of City departments and bureaus I began as Chair of the City's Commission on Revenue Efficiency and as President of the Quality & Productivity Commission.

3. What management strategies would you implement to avoid payroll system problems in the future?

In December 2012, the state Controller reported that the $371-million overhaul of the California government payroll system -- one of the state's biggest technology endeavors -- is riddled with problems and "in danger of collapsing". In contrast, the County of Los Angeles has implemented a number of money- and paper-saving initiatives to reduce the annual costs of County payroll processing by more than $5 million, while making payroll easier to process.

As a business owner, I have first-hand experience with payroll systems. And as Controller, I will adopt the proven and best practices of other government and private industry payroll processors -- to better automate, standardize and save money for the taxpayers.

4. Do you support the ballot measure to increase the sales tax in the city?

No, I do not support the ballot measure to increase the sales tax.

a. Sales tax is one of the most regressive forms of taxation -- hurting low- and moderate-income people the hardest.

b. Los Angeles already has one of the highest sales tax rates in the country. A higher sales tax will drive shoppers and businesses away, resulting in less vs. more revenues for the City.

c. I have advocated that the City (along with County, LAUSD, etc.) do more local purchasing + to help local businesses and jobs, and to decrease the significant sales taxes being paid by the City for its own purchases outside of Los Angeles.

d. With all our great businesses and stores in L.A., the City ranks 16th out of 17 adjacent cities in per capita sales and sales tax revenues + 21% lower than the average for other LA County cities, and 35% lower than the state average. What's needed in the City is not a higher tax -- rather more economic activity. If L.A. merely increased the City's sales tax revenues per capita to the average of all our neighboring Cities in L.A. County, the City could realize more than $60 million in additional annual revenues.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League. 

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 1, 2013 14:30
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