BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — When Bakersfield voted for a new sales tax, they also voted for a citizen’s oversight committee to make sure the money was spent wisely.
The Kern County grand jury is asserting the selection process for that committee wasn't as fair as it could've or should've been.
The complaints started pouring in almost immediately after the city council chose the new committee members, but councilmembers are standing by the process.
The city got 82 applications for the nine-person oversight committee. Each of the seven city council members got nine votes. Candidates needed four votes to make the committee.
The grand jury suggests, moving forward, the city should pick the committee members by random drawing. A concept Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan says she won't support.
"We are elected to be the decision makers," Sullivan said. "So we need to always have the final word."
The grand jury's main concern is seven of the nine committee members were on a list of suggestions given to the city council by a coalition of various community organizations.
While Sullivan admits she used the list for reference and it was helpful, she believes it didn't taint the process.
"The way it ended up I thought, I was thinking gosh there's no way this could be fixed," Sullivan said. "This is definitely very fair."
April 11, 2019
Bakersfield Now
By Jeff Platt
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