We deserve fiscal accountability with our local governments. From the boards of education to city halls in our state there should be accountability when it comes when they ask for more money from the voters. These agencies may want money from the taxpayers, but have these agencies handled money effectively?
I am thinking if a school district is asking for a new bond above a designated amount of money while still paying on previous bonds above a figure of 500 million still owed, the district would need to be audited in its operations. Is the district masking its fiscal inefficiencies by borrowing more money as seen in Santa Ana Unified? Is there really an unmet need for these funds to be utilized in a new bond? A neutral party would be helpful for this accountability. The Proposition 39 bond advisory group does not really have much power after a bond is passed how school districts help plead voters to approve the bonds, but the goal is to provide the voters and the municipalities information before a bond is passed.
City halls would also be audited if they wanted to be bailed out by a sales tax increase or an implementation of an utility tax. If they want to increase their sales tax by a half cent or more, they would also have a forensic audit as well. We should know how our local governments could do better before they ask for the funds and after they receive the new funds approved by the voters of their communities.