SAN BERNARDINO — Even after a
critical 2013 Grand Jury report and threats of consolidation, Yermo Community
District is apparently still struggling to meet California Constitutional and
statutory requirements.
That was the message in
Michael Tuerpe's report during the Local Agency Formation Commission of San
Bernardino County's meeting earlier this week.
"For Yermo CSD, they
have not provided any information," said Tuerpe, who is LAFCO's project
manager. "They have not responded to our letters or the emails
regarding this. However their staff has sent out a couple scant emails, but it
doesn't meet the requirements outlined in the special study.
"We will return in six
months and hopefully the requirements will be satisfied."
As part of the monitoring
process, the special service districts such as Yermo's face several
requirements:
• Adopt and annually review
reserve policies pursuant to community services district law;
• Forward a copy of the final
budget to the county auditor;
• Adopt an annual
appropriations limit by resolution, authorizing the expenditure of the proceeds
of taxes and review the annual calculation as part of annual financial audit.
Yermo CSD General Manager
Melissa Martin told the Desert Dispatch last week that the district has a
reserve for emergency funding. She also said the budget was finalized and sent
off to LAFCO.
Yermo CSD board Vice
President Geoff Berner also said the required financials were already sent. The
Desert Dispatch reached out to LAFCO Executive Officer Kathleen
Rollings-McDonald on Thursday to clarify what Yermo is actually missing to
comply with all requirements. She said at the time the staff's report was
completed, Yermo had submitted nothing. But she said Yermo did submit a budget
just before Wednesday's meeting.
However, Rollings-McDonald
said LAFCO staff is still waiting for Yermo's reserve policy and appropriations
limit. She stressed that the appropriations limit is vital.
"If you do not complete
the appropriations limit you cannot extend proceeds of taxes."
During Wednesday's hearing,
commission member and 1st District Supervisor Robert Lovingood said he was told
a computer hard drive was stolen from the Yermo district's office. He said that
might be the reason for incomplete financials.
"Our office continues to
attend all meetings out there," Lovingood said. "You are not going to
get any response, any feedback and acknowledgement from them anyways because we
were informed all their financial statements have been stolen by employees. It
was on a computer hard drive taken and they had no information."
Berner acknowledged that a
computer at the office was partially taken apart back in 2011 by an employee,
but all of the computer's components were put back together and the device
still works.
The Sheriff's Department said
it never received a report of a computer theft from the Yermo CSD.
The Desert Dispatch tried to
reach CSD board President Bob Smith without success.
Director Gary Yearsley said
he believes the computer issue is a "smokescreen" and not a true
statement.
He also said he doesn't
recall seeing a budget or appropriation documents ever being presented at
recent board meetings.
"I think the community
is being cheated and not getting what they should for their money,"
Yearsley said. He is calling for an investigation.
David Jensen was the only
other director who responded to Desert Dispatch inquiries.
"I can offer no
statement on this matter until such a time when I can personally look into the
matter, in depth," Jensen said.
Commissioner Jim Bagley said
everything brings up "red flags to me," after hearing the report of
incomplete compliance by community service districts.
"It's so basic when you
are obligated to have a budget," he said. "I understand people not
understanding on occasions, but we offered free classes to special districts. I
see we have one coming up. There is just some basic things you have to comply
with. I hate to bring the Grand Jury in.
"Even in a small
district you can whip out a budget on the Excel spread sheet in a couple hours.
And if you can't do that, it tells me you really don't know what you are doing
and you shouldn't be doing it. I'm concerned if this comes up again in future
service district reviews. I don't want to force consolidation, but we have a
responsibility to taxpayers and the public."
August 20, 2015
Desert
Dispatch
By Mike
Lamb
No comments:
Post a Comment