A sweeping state audit of Mendocino County practices, including finance, contracts and procurements, and elections, will be conducted over the next 18 months after legislative approval of a bill that now only needs the governor’s signature.
The Legislature this week appropriated $800,000 to underwrite the state probe. The state move caps a turbulent period in the county, including the criminal indictment of the suspended elected county Auditor, the local Board of Supervisors’ declaration of a ‘fiscal crisis’ because of delays in financial reporting, and other politically laced issues.
The state Controller’s Office said Thursday it expects to release findings next week from its narrow review of the county’s Auditor’s Office functions, a probe sought last year by the county Board of Supervisors.
While it is not unusual for the state to audit local governments, McGuire said the situation in Mendocino County has reached a “tipping point.”
“The community deserves answers,” said McGuire, an influential state legislator now Senate President Pro Tem.
McGuire said he secured approval of the special audit because “the status quo doesn’t work – which is why the state is stepping in.”
“With the state performing an independent audit of all county departments and on all accounts, some much-needed daylight will shine through,” said McGuire.
Mo Mulheren, chair of the county Board of Supervisors, said the county has been “undergoing changes of our own as they relate to fiscal accountability and contracting.”
“This audit will highlight our strengths and help us improve where needed, and as with any rural community, we look forward to the opportunity to have the resources and knowledge from the state to assist us with these improvements,” said Mulheren.
Coast Supervisor Ted Williams, who has led board criticism of county financial reporting practices, said Thursday of the special state audit, “This is an appropriate next step.”
Assessor-County Clerk Katrina Bartolomei, who oversees county elections, said Thursday that “no one from the state contacted me” about the special audit. The office experienced two ballot snafus earlier this year. All county residents were sent Republican ballots for the March 5 primary. Then, two weeks before the election, it was discovered that about 50 people had received incorrect information because the 2021 redistricting had not been correctly accounted for in voter files.
Bartolomei blamed the larger ballot error on an out-of-county vendor. She acknowledged her office was responsible for the redistricting error.
State Auditor spokesperson Dana Simas cautioned that state audits are not unusual, citing some ongoing probes of issues in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, and Alameda counties.
Elected County Auditor-Controller Chamise Cubbison was suspended last fall by the Board of Supervisors after District Attorney David Eyster filed a felony charge of misuse of public funds against her. Eyster’s controversial move followed a history of conflict with Cubbison and other county auditors over his spending practices. Cubbison is fighting the criminal charge, with a preliminary hearing now scheduled for late July. Cubbison also filed a civil lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors for denying her due process after locking her out of the Auditor’s Office and stripping her of pay and benefits within days of Eyster’s criminal filing.
In a Thursday statement, McGuire said the state audit should help “rebuild trust in the community by providing all sides with the facts and transparency to make sound decisions going forward.”
It’s about time.
Article writer Mike Geniella, Will there be some sort of hotline or email where Mendocino county citizens can send tips to the auditors?
Sarcasm Alert! I can’t wait for the State of California experts in financial matters, deficits, transparency and trust building to weigh in on Mendocino County! They do such a great job at the State of all those things! All for a screaming deal at just $800,000 too!
County getting audited? Yay!!! Whoop Whoop! Known to be corrupt as hell. Get rid of them all!!! Obscure line items that are not tracked? Are they f’ing joking? So So So corrupt!
Heres a tip…Every dirty lazy drug addled hippy in this county has pockets full of welfare money from being permanent screw offs.
Raylan Givens, Hippies with pockets full of money? What kind drugs are you on?
Mr Givens, please crawl back into whatever hole ?? you came from. Your comments are filled with vile, and bad faith intentions and have nothing to do with the articles.
Title: The Ripple Effect
My name is 2rump, and I’ve always been fascinated by social experiments. Living in the heart of a bustling city, I often pondered the impact of popular movements and wondered what would happen if someone actively opposed them. One movement that particularly intrigued—and, frankly, annoyed—me was “Merka,” a global movement promoting freedom and democracy.
While many revered Merka’s ideals of freedom and democratic principles, I couldn’t shake the belief that it had grown too powerful, too influential, and needed to be challenged. So, one day, I decided to embark on a bold experiment. I created an anonymous blog, “Dismantle Merka,” where I wrote scathing critiques and launched fierce attacks against the movement’s ideas and principles.
Initially, my experiment sparked outrage. Supporters of Merka flooded social media with condemnations and rebuttals. I faced backlash and criticism from friends and strangers alike. But amidst the chaos, something unexpected began to unfold.
My relentless criticism, intended to provoke thought and dismantle blind allegiance, sparked deeper conversations about the complexities of freedom and democracy. People started questioning the merits of Merka’s unchecked influence and the consequences of its actions. Skeptics found a voice, urging for a reassessment of the movement’s impact on societal structures and individual liberties.
Months passed, and as public discourse evolved, cracks in Merka’s armor began to show. Scholars and activists highlighted overlooked abuses of power and failures in democratic processes. Governments and institutions started reevaluating their approaches, seeking to restore balance and accountability in governance. The once-dismissed arguments of “Dismantle Merka” gained traction, influencing policy debates and advocating for reforms that safeguarded both freedom and democratic integrity.
Slowly but surely, my social experiment became a rallying cry for change. Merka, once considered an untouchable beacon of freedom, began to face scrutiny and reform efforts. The movement adapted, incorporating critiques and embracing reforms that addressed its shortcomings.
In the end, I realized that my experiment had unintentionally sparked a renaissance of critical thinking and accountability. By challenging the status quo and advocating for dismantling Merka’s dominance, I had contributed to a more nuanced understanding of freedom and democracy. As I closed my blog and reflected on my journey, I understood that sometimes, the most profound changes come from boldly questioning and confronting powerful movements. Lastly, I put my fat head on the pillow, imagining all the lives I altered forever rejoicing in their misery, and easily drifted away.