If I found $54 million I didn’t know I had, I’d be ecstatic. Yet, when California taxpayers discovered $54 million stuck in secret state parks system bank accounts, they were miffed.
California parks, constrained by the state’s multi-year budget crunch, were facing closure. Meanwhile, these funds went unreported to the Department of Finance. Ruth Coleman, who has led the parks system for the last decade, resigned. Her second-in-command was fired.
A spokesperson for California’s finance department admitted that, historically, the department had relied upon “accurate and correct accounting being reported to us by the relevant departments.” The San Jose Mercury News called it, “The little-known practice of trusting — and not verifying . . .”
Seems there are 500 “special funds” accounting for supposedly $37 billion about which California’s Department of Finance doesn’t have any real clue.
Jonathan Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, says this is hardly “an isolated incident,” and points out that it must be piled “on top of the High Speed Rail fiasco, pay hikes for legislative employees, having to pay $34 million in penalties for overdue bills, raids on special funds to pay for Legislative malfeasance, etc.”
Meanwhile, Governor Jerry Brown continues to push a tax increase. One of his arguments for the tax hike has been that parks were being closed due to the budget crunch — er, well, rather, due to state officials hiding $54 million dollars.
The Governor’s tax initiative is in trouble. Coupal notes that fiscally prudent Californians have defeated the last eight tax increases on the ballot.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
6 replies on “Hidden Taxpayer Treasure”
California is missing an important institutional element, a constitutionaly indepedent state auditor.
The state controller has an entirely different function.
There are already many auditors, but they are toothless lacking constitutional protection and “independence.”
Larry Stirling
former State Senator.
Need to tie their salary to the level of care that they are giving to the abuse of our tax dollars. So that they treat them with appropriate reverence
I would bet the following:
the funds were in a zero or almost zero account(s) such as checking accounts or the like;
and the bank(s) holding the account(s) were/are controlled by politically connected people. (Like, perhaps Congresswoman Water’s husband?) ( as a guess-not based on any knowledge of the situation).
Or others with ties to the “leaders” of the state or the representitives (state or federal)?
I’d be more than miffed. I’d be suspicious. The fact that $54 million was ‘found’ indicates that the taxpayers are being ripped off, royally. How much more ‘lost’ funds are waiting to be ‘found’?
I can’t feel sorry for CA taxpayers. They have I&R. They voted for this monstrosity posing as a government. They deserve whatever they get.
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