Friday, October 3, 2014

Letter: FRRPD turns deaf ear to Butte County Grand Jury


September 19, 2014
Chico Enterprise-Record
Letter to the Editor

The Feather River Recreation and Park District was investigated again in 2013-14. FRRPD submitted its response dated Sept. 12.
The board blames past debt for its financial problems. It isn't true. Had the Activity Center not been purchased, they could be out of debt by now.

The board blames past members for not allowing new programs. FRRPD cannot create enough programs to pay the debt on the Activity Center, not in Oroville. The income base isn't there. The Grand Jury had it right. The debt load is not sustainable.

The Grand Jury recommended setting term limits. The board stated they would not do so. Term limits would eliminate board members who are toxic for the district.

The Grand Jury found that "many board members and staff lack in-depth financial expertise." The FRRPD board stated, "There is not a current board member that does not have a successful financial background ..." Someone with a "successful financial background" isn't necessarily someone who knows financial accounting.

Why wouldn't they know they've approved and published a budget comparing actual figures to budgeted figures? They didn't report actual figures for prior years correctly, nor report actual figures for the 2013-14 year. There can be no comparison.

A governmental budget should be balanced. FRRPD's is not. There should be balanced budgets for the general fund, the BAD fund and the impact fee fund. There should be a summary of all three. There is not. This budget does not reflect either board members or staff who understand finances.

— Susan Martin, Chico

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