Board of Supervisors Delay Action Again
Some 15 months ago the Lassen County Board of Supervisors (BOS) first became aware that they had a problem in how they allocate overhead costs.
On September 13, 2005 the Supervisor Chapman brought the issue back to the (BOS). He simply asked that a policy and procedure be prepared to address this issue. What happened next represented an incredible lack of leadership.
The County Auditor passes the buck. She passes around numbers to Department Heads who are not skilled in cost allocation plans. This passing around violates her responsibility as determined by the State Controller.
County Counsel clearly stated that some Department Heads were aware that if they talked to County Counsel they would see their charges increase. Are the budget practices of Lassen County deterring County Departments from seeking necessary counsel? County Counsel has a budget of $311K of which only $131K has made it into the County Cost Plan.
CAO Ketelsen said that he was having trouble writing a policy for the County Cost Plan. Let’s see, “Lassen County hereby adopts the procedures contained in the State Controller’s ‘Handbook of Cost Plan Procedures for California Counties’ for the purpose of making valid claims for indirect costs and central services support charges to Federal and State programs.” A simple start to the policy.
Supervisor Pyle completely ignored the importance of the County Cost Plan which states "A complete and accurate cost plan is also essential to budget preparation". The BOS followed Pyle’s lead and put off the discussion.
The BOS also failed to follow-up and move Elections from the County Clerk’s Office and providing accessibility to their meetings by broadcasting over the Internet (the County currently broadcasts over their own intranet).
There was an argument over $40,000 for economic development. The result was no new policy and essentially a continuation of the current direction. A local politician told me that the County has succeeded in their economic plan, they planned not to move ahead and they have accomplished same.
Based upon the problems that we have seen with Katrina I must ask “what will the Board of Supervisors do in a real emergency?” Scary stuff.
On September 13, 2005 the Supervisor Chapman brought the issue back to the (BOS). He simply asked that a policy and procedure be prepared to address this issue. What happened next represented an incredible lack of leadership.
The County Auditor passes the buck. She passes around numbers to Department Heads who are not skilled in cost allocation plans. This passing around violates her responsibility as determined by the State Controller.
County Counsel clearly stated that some Department Heads were aware that if they talked to County Counsel they would see their charges increase. Are the budget practices of Lassen County deterring County Departments from seeking necessary counsel? County Counsel has a budget of $311K of which only $131K has made it into the County Cost Plan.
CAO Ketelsen said that he was having trouble writing a policy for the County Cost Plan. Let’s see, “Lassen County hereby adopts the procedures contained in the State Controller’s ‘Handbook of Cost Plan Procedures for California Counties’ for the purpose of making valid claims for indirect costs and central services support charges to Federal and State programs.” A simple start to the policy.
Supervisor Pyle completely ignored the importance of the County Cost Plan which states "A complete and accurate cost plan is also essential to budget preparation". The BOS followed Pyle’s lead and put off the discussion.
The BOS also failed to follow-up and move Elections from the County Clerk’s Office and providing accessibility to their meetings by broadcasting over the Internet (the County currently broadcasts over their own intranet).
There was an argument over $40,000 for economic development. The result was no new policy and essentially a continuation of the current direction. A local politician told me that the County has succeeded in their economic plan, they planned not to move ahead and they have accomplished same.
Based upon the problems that we have seen with Katrina I must ask “what will the Board of Supervisors do in a real emergency?” Scary stuff.
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