Worrisome Days In Orange County

Prolonged recession has changed economic attitudes and behavior in Orange County. Combined with the first drop in median household income in more than a decade, jobs and the economy now rank as the county’s most important issue. Money is an increasing cause for concern, and as income has dropped, charitable giving has gone down. The percentage of residents who are “very satisfied” with their financial situation has been nearly halved since 1982.

Most important issues:

Jobs, economy: 26%

Crime: 17

Traffic: 14

Schools: 13

Growth: 11

Immigration: 10

Housing: 9

First drop in median household income:

In thousands

1982: $29

1983: 32

1984: 36

1985: 39

1986: 41

1987: 42

1988: 44

1989: 45

1990: 49

1991: 49

1992: 45

Worries about money:

1986 1992 Very often 14% 26% Fairly often 28 33 Not often 58 41

Those “very satisfied” with finances drop:

1982: 30%

1991: 21

1992: 17

Annual median charitable contributions plummet:

1987: $262

1988: 182

1989: 285

1990: 223

1991: 229

1992: 146

Source: Orange County Annual Survey, UC Irvine