By Zachary K. Johnson
Record Staff Writer
June 18, 2009 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - A year after a civil grand jury issued a critical report on the San Joaquin Regional Transit District, this year's grand jury gave the transit agency mixed marks but noted compliance and improvements.
RTD disagreed with most of the findings in last year's report, but the district had implemented all 15 recommendations over the past year, according to the latest report.
"We're very grateful that they noted where we made improvements," RTD General Manager Donna DeMartino said.
The grand jury follow-up report had praise and criticism for the transit district's use of consultants but was critical of the district's budgeted expenses, including continuing to purchase movie tickets as employee gifts.
The $4,000 a year spent on tickets to reward employees is a slim fraction of the RTD budget, DeMartino said. "We're successful because of our employees ... we believe this is a small token," she said.
The grand jury reported an RTD analysis of all consultants and positions led to reductions saving RTD $400,000.
But the district's itemization of the work done by its consultants continues to be inadequate, according to the report.
DeMartino said RTD would like to see clarification on that point, adding it seemed to contradict another grand jury finding that the district had implemented a process to ensure work is done and correctly invoiced before payment is made.
The grand jury recommended the RTD Board of Directors become more involved in the district's financial workings.
Other findings in the grand jury report released this week:
» RTD budgeted excessive amounts for expenses, including $960,000 in legal services and $200,000 for two security staff members.
» RTD bought a new police pursuit vehicle in 2006. In 2009, the vehicle had 20 miles on it when RTD gave it to Stockton Unified School District in exchange for security services at the Downtown Transit Station.
Contact reporter Zachary K. Johnson at (209) 546-8258 or zjohnson@recordnet.com.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090618/A_NEWS/906180316/-1/NEWSMAP
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