LAKEPORT, Calif. – His budget acumen has been credited with making Lake one of the few counties in the state to have no deficit, and his knowledge of the county and his advice on how to guide it through good times and bad have been sought by numerous supervisors and other officials.
But after 32 years in county government, Lake County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox has concluded that it’s time to retire.
Cox, 56, has been hinting at retirement for the last few years, but has so far not given a concrete date for putting down his ever-sharp budgeting pencil.
However, in a memorandum penned to the Board of Supervisors for an untimed discussion during its Tuesday meeting, Cox officially announces he’s retiring, and gives the date as the close of business on Friday, March 16.
“I selected this date because it should provide me with sufficient time to assist in preparing our department’s FY 2012-13 budget proposals while also providing my successor with the opportunity to prepare the actual FY 2012-13 Recommended County Budget for your Board’s consideration in June,” Cox wrote.
He notes in the memo that he has mixed emotions about retiring. While he wants to be able to pursue other interests, including travel, he said it will be difficult for him to leave his colleagues, friends and staff.
“My genuine love of Lake County and respect for public service makes me want to continue working indefinitely, but I know that sooner or later everyone has to retire and all things considered I believe now is the time for me to do so and I ask that the Board accept and support this decision,” he wrote.
Cox pursued a double major in political science and business management from Sonoma State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree. He then earned a master’s degree in public administration and, just a few months later, at the age of 24 was hired to work in the County Administrative Office.
Just a year later, at age 25, he found himself taking on the county administrative officer’s duties after the then-administrative officer left. He’s been doing the job ever since, with his duties evolving and expanding “along with the rest of our County government.”
By his count he’s worked with 23 different members of the Board of Supervisors, more than 100 county department head, thousands of employees and at different times done double duty as director of personnel, data processing, buildings and grounds, marketing, risk management, the county museum and at one time even served as department head for the public defender’s office.
“As challenging as it has been, one of the responsibilities I have actually enjoyed the most and where I believe I have been the most successful is my work on the County’s annual budget,” Cox said in his memo to the board.
He said he’s prepared 31 county budgets, the largest just over $200 million a few years ago.
Cox said the county budget he inherited had general fund debt, which included service bonds for the 1968 construction of the county courthouse.
“Since my philosophy has been to avoid general fund debt, I was pleased to be able to provide budget recommendations to the Board of Supervisors that resulted in an early pay-off of the courthouse bonds and I successfully recommended subsequent budgets that did not require the issuance of any general fund debt,” according to Cox.
This year’s budget, he noted, has a structurally balanced general fund with no debt, significant appropriations for contingencies and “very substantial” reserve funds. “I believe this approach has benefited the County and the County’s taxpayers and I hope it will be continued in the future.”
During his tenure, county government has had numerous economic challenges, from Proposition 13 to “the great recession” of recent years. “My approach has always been to consider these challenges as opportunities to improve efficiency within county government, which sometimes forced very difficult decisions to be made.”
He’s overseen the construction of many county projects – health, corrections, library and others – and took an active hand in saving the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, the Ely Stage Stop and the Lucerne Hotel.
At the Tuesday meeting he’ll ask the board to begin the process of recruiting his successor.
“I have full confidence in your Board’s ability to appoint a qualified individual to serve as my successor,” Cox’s memo stated. “I believe it will ultimately be beneficial for Lake County to have new energy and new ideas to help guide the County though future challenges that will undoubtedly exist as the State transfers more responsibilities to counties and as the recession further impacts the County’s tax revenue base.”
Cox, who offered to help as a volunteer after he takes some time off to rest and travel, thanked his staff and the many supervisors.
“I have enjoyed my job more than words can express and will be eternally grateful for having had the opportunity to serve this great County for so many years,” he concluded.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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