Josephine County has a new face at the helm of its finances — and he’s making it clear from the start that transparency will be the cornerstone of his tenure. On July 22, Dustin Calvo was appointed County Treasurer, stepping into the role following the resignation of Mark DeYoung. Bringing both determination and a firm commitment to doing what’s best for the county’s residents, Calvo says political pressure will not sway him from his mission.
From day one, Calvo found the Treasurer’s Office facing backlogs and unfinished work. “Dailies” had piled up, the March quarterly report was missing, and some processes had been handled incorrectly. Within weeks, he had cleared the backlog, ensured compliance with the county’s investment policy, and begun preparations for critical tasks like foreclosure work and the upcoming tax season. He credits an experienced staff for keeping routine operations running smoothly while he focused on long-term improvements.
One of Calvo’s first decisions was to bring in a consultant, Eve Arce, whose 29 years in county finance—including 12 as Treasurer—made her uniquely qualified to guide him through the transition. Arce’s $5,000 contract, which began August 1, was designed to run through September 30, giving Calvo expert support during the crucial first months of his tenure.
However, Calvo quickly discovered that the current Board of County Commissioners does not share his commitment to transparency. Tensions surfaced almost immediately after Arce began work. Soon afterward, the Board—led by Chair Andreas Blech—cited the federal False Claims Act as justification for suspending all individual contract-signing authority indefinitely. The decision required that all department head contracts, including those of elected officials, be reviewed by the Board before signing. The Chair also ordered that all contracts signed in the preceding 30 days be brought forward for review. Calvo has questioned both the timing and the relevance of invoking the Act, noting that it appears to apply to federal contracts rather than county-level agreements, and pointing out that his contract with Arce was one of only two known to have been signed within the 30-day period targeted for review.
When Calvo requested a public discussion of the matter, the Board Chair postponed his agenda item without explanation. He believes the issue is being kept behind closed doors, but says his consultant continues to work because the contract was validly executed before the new rules took effect. He hopes to extend Arce’s role into December to help navigate the demanding tax season.
Beyond the consultant dispute, Calvo has identified broader priorities for the Treasurer’s Office. He wants to address low wages for his front-line staff—some of the lowest in the county—arguing that employees who handle millions in county funds should be competitively compensated to attract and retain talent. He’s also advocating for improved security measures at the office to ensure the safety of staff and county funds, as well as clearer emergency protocols and better use of existing alert systems during incidents.
County finances remain under strain from other uncertainties, including $3 million in grant-related funds tied up over questions about federal airport funding. Calvo says those funds cannot be invested while in limbo, costing the county potential interest.
Even with these challenges, Calvo says he intends to stay focused on his mission: keeping county finances transparent, secure, and well-managed. “I wasn’t appointed to do what’s best for the board,” he emphasized. “I was appointed to do what’s best for the citizens of Josephine County.”
Whether the commissioners will back his consultant’s continued work or his other proposed changes will become clear in the months ahead. For now, Josephine County welcomes a new treasurer who has hit the ground running—and shows no signs of slowing down.