August
15, 2014
CalCoastNews.com
Guadalupe
mayor Frances Romero announced plans Tuesday to ask the Santa Barbara County
Grand Jury to investigate the city’s past financial mismanagement and
accounting practices.
“As
a citizen of Guadalupe that is also its mayor, and in an effort to have a clean
slate for those that come behind this council, and to clear the air for those
who have served on the council previously, I would like to publicly request
that the grand jury do an investigation into the things that have occurred here
over the last 10 to 15 years,” Romero said during this weeks city council
meeting.
Shortly
after former San Luis Obispo City Councilman Andrew Carter accepted the
Guadalupe city administrator position, he discovered that previous city
officials had been using illegal accounting tactics to cover up deficits in the
city’s general fund. Specifically, moneys paid for utilities such as sewer and
water were being diverted to pay for expenses such as salaries for police and
fire.
Carter
discovered the Northern Santa Barbara County town of about 7,000 residents has
a ongoing deficit of about $725,000 a year. Even if city residence vote for
three tax measures in November, he estimates a $335,000 dollar deficit for this
fiscal year.
Nevertheless,
Councilman John Lizalde and Councilman John Sabedra said Tuesday they were not
in favor of asking the grand jury to investigate noting the time it would take
staff to cooperate.
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