FAIRFIELD >> Stating that they “strongly disagree” with two recently released Solano County Grand Jury reports, the Solano Community College Board of Trustees on Wednesday submitted official responses to the reports.
Measure Q, the college’s $348 million bond — passed in 2012 — mislead the general public, according to the grand jury.
“(Measure Q) failed to comply with the California Constitution and other applicable statutes,” the June 24 report states.
The grand jury report goes on to lambaste the measure, contending that it was written to play on the emotions of the voters “in effort to obtain $348 million in funding to be paid back over a period of 40 years.”
The lack of an approved district master plan before the 2012 election, also drew the attention of the grand jury, which stated that a master plan should have been available prior to voters making their decision.
District officials maintain that Proposition 39 does not require districts have master plans prior to the election, only that the ballot language describe how bond monies will be spent.
A second report, released the next day, blasted the district for not providing the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, mandated by state law to ensure accountability of the bond, timely information about district projects.
The grand jury also discovered — through interviews — that an annual report prepared by the CBOC for release to the public, was, at best, “approved by” the CBOC.
“The district maintains that the bond language clearly described the type and nature of projects for Measure Q,” officials said in the same release. “Furthermore, although not required, the district does note that master plans were in fact available to the public before the election.
The district noted that the grand jury acknowledged that it found no evidence of criminal misconduct by Solano College.
“The response also describes how the district has consistently and regularly interacted with committee members by sharing information, conducting trainings and providing administrative support, all in accordance with the state of California’s Education Code,” officials added.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to clear the record through the civil grand jury process,” interim District Superintendent Stan Arterberry, said in the same release. “This adds another layer of transparency for Solano County voters, who deserve to know the full story behind bond Measure Q, and how it is achieving the objectives clearly laid out before the election.”
By John Glidden, Vallejo Times-Herald
No comments:
Post a Comment