Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Dana L. Schultz
Current job title: Chief Investment Officer, County of Orange
Age: 45
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: N/A
City where you reside: Anaheim
Campaign website or social media: Dana4Treasurer.com
What do you think is the most important role of the treasurer-tax collector, and how should that service to the county be delivered? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The most important role of the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector is to safeguard public funds, while ensuring transparent, efficient and financially prudent operations and services provided to the residents of Orange County. This includes investing billions of dollars in funds for the county of Orange and the Orange County Department of Education, maintaining liquidity to meet the county and education department’s obligations and ensuring timely collection of almost $10 billion in property taxes annually.
This role should be delivered by a financial steward experienced with the operations of the office and the county to ensure strong internal controls are in place, all legal mandates are met, and policies are followed to both instill and maintain public trust. Equally important is to create a workplace culture that empowers and values staff, because a strong team produces strong outcomes resulting in excellent customer service to the residents of Orange County. With over 26 years of county financial and operational expertise, I understand both the technical and human sides of this role. My focus would be on protecting taxpayer dollars, strengthening transparency and ensuring the office operates with integrity, trust and excellence.
Which new initiatives or programs do you hope to create to better serve those needing the services of the treasurer-tax collector’s office? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I am committed to modernizing the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector by leveraging technology to enhance and expand services to the residents of Orange County, making their experience with our office easier, faster, and more accessible for taxpayers.
Some key initiatives I would focus on implementing to better serve the residents would be to enhance property tax collection services. Initiatives such as the implementation of e-bills would allow residents to receive bills online, reducing waste and saving taxpayer dollars spent printing and mailing hard copy bills. I would like to also introduce the ability to schedule online automatic payments, giving taxpayers better ability to manage their payments, resulting in reduced late fees and penalties incurred from forgotten payments. Another initiative that would assist taxpayers in making timely payments in the convenience of their home would be to add the ability to split payments into multiple payment types, currently this is only available in person.
Internally, I would focus on operational efficiencies by streamlining processes, reducing redundancy and investing in modern technology that supports staff productivity and internal controls. These improvements are more than just about convenience, they enhance transparency, reduce errors and build public trust.
Are there areas of savings and/or investment that you see the treasurer-tax collector’s office tapping into in the future to benefit the county and its residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
There are many opportunities to increase efficiency that would result in savings in addition to enhancing services provided.
Operationally, cost savings can be achieved through streamlining processes, modernizing technology and expanding online services. Increased efficiencies reduce administrative costs, which result in savings to the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector and reduced administrative costs charged to participants in the Orange County Treasury Pool.
On the investments side, as the current chief investment officer for the county of Orange and the prior assistant treasurer-tax collector, I have been managing the funds for the past three years for the $15 billion-$18 billion portfolio. Under my leadership, my team has been actively managing the portfolio, closely monitoring financial conditions, and capitalizing on financial opportunities, all while ensuring the focus remains on the three objectives of safeguarding the principal of funds (Safety), meeting the liquidity needs of depositors (Liquidity) and achieving a return on the funds under our control (Yield).
My approach is to balance innovation with prudence. The enhancements I would introduce in addition to the continued high-performing financial management of the portfolio would protect taxpayer dollars while identifying responsible opportunities to improve returns and reduce expenses with transparency and strong oversight as the focus.
How do your background and experiences make you the most qualified candidate for this office? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
My background reflects over 26 years of experience in Orange County government. My career as a public servant has focused on financial oversight, operational leadership and public accountability. I have worked across multiple departments, including the Health Care Agency, the County Executive Office, the Probation Department and the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector. This experience has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of county finances, programs and services.
My experience includes navigating complex budgets and funding streams, improving internal controls, implementing policy, enhancing technology, and improving workplace environments. I have worked in collaboration with county leadership, auditors, and oversight bodies to ensure accountability and transparency. I have built strong relationships in the county with the department heads, County Executive Office, unions and the Board of Supervisors.
Most importantly, I have direct experience leading the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector, overseeing daily operations, strengthening financial reporting and being responsible for the investment and cash management functions that impact billions in public funds. Based on my experience and my certifications as a Certified and Advanced Certified Public Funds Investment Manager (CPFIM/ACPFIM), I understand the complexity of managing public funds, ensuring liquidity and maintaining strict compliance with California law and county policies.
As the treasurer-tax collector, how will you meet the diverse needs of Orange County government and its residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Meeting the diverse needs of the county government and its residents requires a balanced approach that prioritizes fiscal accountability, accessibility and superior customer service.
On the county side, I will ensure that the county’s financial operations remain stable through collaboration and communication with county partners, including the Board of Supervisors, the County Executive Office, the Auditor-Controller, and the Orange County Department of Education. I commit to providing strong cash management, sufficient liquidity, timely and accurate financial reporting, and continued high-performing investment of the public funds, safely maximizing participants’ yields.
As for the residents, I pledge to provide accessible and user-friendly services, prioritizing enhanced online tools such as e-billing and flexible payment tools. I will focus on enhancing the clarity of our communications and providing easy-to-understand information and guidance to the residents on all services the office provides. Equally important and directly related to supporting these efforts is ensuring a professional, respectful office culture that reflects the diversity of our community and delivers services with respect and integrity. My goal is to ensure every interaction, whether with a county partner or an Orange County resident, is efficient, transparent and grounded in a commitment to public trust.