It looks like Sacramento County's new CEO has taken a shine to his job.

Two weeks ago, we reported in Public Eye that after four months as the county's chief executive officer, Brad Hudson had run up expenses of $21,000 to purchase a $7,300 "Lexington model" desk, a fancy executive chair, "Diva" series conference chairs and other new furniture.

At the time, Hudson explained that he wanted "something that was appropriate for the work that we do. It's not extravagant. I just want people to feel like they can come in."

Since that report, however, new information has come to light over an additional item for which he billed Sacramento County.

Last year, Hudson purchased a $78 shoe polisher with "lamb wool buffers," records show.

Can't he afford to pay for his own shoeshines?

Turns out, he probably can. That's because he is collecting a $200,000 annual retirement benefit from the city of Riverside, along with his new Sacramento County CEO salary of $258,000 plus benefits.

He's able to collect a pension and a salary because Sacramento County has a different retirement plan than Riverside, which is part of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, officials say.

He couldn't get the same deal with the city of Sacramento, which is covered by CalPERS. "If he were to work for a CalPERS employer, he would have to reinstate – meaning his pension would end," said CalPERS spokesman Brad Pacheco.

Hudson retired as city manager in Riverside at age 53, with 25 years of government service. Hudson could earn a second pension when he leaves Sacramento County. His contract calls for Sacramento County to match up to $9,000 of his annual contributions to the county's retirement plan.

Asked about the purchase, Hudson asserted it's for managers spending more time in the field. "It seemed like providing a way to dust off their shoes when they returned was a small price to pay."

So where is Sacramento County making money? Depends on whom you ask.

For example, to get a copy of a document from the Sacramento County clerk/recorder, you must pay $12 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. The cost of having an employee make a copy at FedEx Office: 12 cents a page.

A Pasadena public records firm says the county ought to charge less than FedEx. In a lawsuit filed in Superior Court, California Public Records Research Inc. argues that the county's inflated copy fees violate state law.

Clerk/recorder documents fall under a state law allowing the office to recover direct and indirect costs for copies.

In a written statement, Chief Deputy Clerk/Recorder Donna Allred said: "Our fees are established to recover the total cost for providing services, including staff time." No profit is made, she said.

But the Pasadena firm argues that the county's costs amount to no more than 10 cents a page. It's asking the court to set that as the fee and order the county to pay back those it overcharged.

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Call The Bee's Brad Branan, (916) 321-1065. Follow him on Twitter @ BradB_at_SacBee.

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