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Taft, Calif. —
Taft City Councilman Dave Noerr once again asked for a regular report detailing just how much money the city has readily available in a reserve fund.
It's something he has asked for several times, most recently at a finance committee meeting held last week.
Mayor Randy Miller backed him up.
Noerr told Treasurer Bill LeBarron at Tuesday night's council meeting that he wants the treasurer's monthly report to include a “quick color snapshot” showing how much money the city has available in its reserves.
Several items relating to the city's finance were discussed at Tuesday's meeting, held a week after the finance committee was told the city is losing about $586,000 in the last half of the curent fiscal year from the closure of the Taft Community Correctional Facility and could end up paying out as much as $89,000 monthly in unemployment benefits and retraining costs for the employees laid off when the CCF closed.
“Where is our discretionary fund balance?” Noerr asked when LeBarron presented his monthly report.
Later in the meeting, Noerr took aim at the reporting of money owed to the city by the Taft Community Development Agency, which is being dissolved after the California Supreme Court upheld the California Legislature's vote to abolish them to save tax revenue.
Noerr has criticized the city's accounting practices, which show that money the city is owed from the TCDA is being recorded as an asset even though it is not being repaid.
“That money does not exist,” Noerr said.
So those figures, Noerr said, present a budget that, while balanced on paper, is in reality a deficit budget.
“What we spent did not exist,” Noerr said. “That money came right out of our reserves. We spent our savings.”
That, Noerr said, is why he wants to get the monthly report – to get a clear, up-to-date picture of how much money he city really has on hand in its reserves.
Finance Director Teresa Binkley said she could do that.
LeBarron defended the city's handling of the finances, including questions about the preparation of a $92,000 check to pay the state to stay in the redevelopment business, an issue that became a moot point after the state supreme court decision.
City Manager Bob Gorson apologized for including the check as listed among several pages of checks to be approved by the council. The council had directed the city not spend that money until it was discussed and voted on.
LeBarron said the check was not going to be paid.
“Most checks don't go out unless I sign them,” he said.
He said that check was marked by “big red letters.”
“Don't worry,” LeBarron told the council.” We're taking care of your money as best we know how.”
Taft City Councilman Dave Noerr once again asked for a regular report detailing just how much money the city has readily available in a reserve fund.
It's something he has asked for several times, most recently at a finance committee meeting held last week.
Mayor Randy Miller backed him up.
Noerr told Treasurer Bill LeBarron at Tuesday night's council meeting that he wants the treasurer's monthly report to include a “quick color snapshot” showing how much money the city has available in its reserves.
Several items relating to the city's finance were discussed at Tuesday's meeting, held a week after the finance committee was told the city is losing about $586,000 in the last half of the curent fiscal year from the closure of the Taft Community Correctional Facility and could end up paying out as much as $89,000 monthly in unemployment benefits and retraining costs for the employees laid off when the CCF closed.
“Where is our discretionary fund balance?” Noerr asked when LeBarron presented his monthly report.
Later in the meeting, Noerr took aim at the reporting of money owed to the city by the Taft Community Development Agency, which is being dissolved after the California Supreme Court upheld the California Legislature's vote to abolish them to save tax revenue.
Noerr has criticized the city's accounting practices, which show that money the city is owed from the TCDA is being recorded as an asset even though it is not being repaid.
“That money does not exist,” Noerr said.
So those figures, Noerr said, present a budget that, while balanced on paper, is in reality a deficit budget.
“What we spent did not exist,” Noerr said. “That money came right out of our reserves. We spent our savings.”
That, Noerr said, is why he wants to get the monthly report – to get a clear, up-to-date picture of how much money he city really has on hand in its reserves.
Finance Director Teresa Binkley said she could do that.
LeBarron defended the city's handling of the finances, including questions about the preparation of a $92,000 check to pay the state to stay in the redevelopment business, an issue that became a moot point after the state supreme court decision.
City Manager Bob Gorson apologized for including the check as listed among several pages of checks to be approved by the council. The council had directed the city not spend that money until it was discussed and voted on.
LeBarron said the check was not going to be paid.
“Most checks don't go out unless I sign them,” he said.
He said that check was marked by “big red letters.”
“Don't worry,” LeBarron told the council.” We're taking care of your money as best we know how.”
