| Why are Huntington Park Elected Officials NOT transparent with the City's proposed Budget for 2004-2005? Why are only 8 days given to review approximately 500 pages of the proposed budget? Why is citizen input left out? What does the proposed budget contain to prompt the Budget Committee and Council Members to prevent public scrutiny and public comment? WHAT IS CITY COUNCIL HIDING? |
These actions, deeds and patterns of behavior by the Budget Committee and City Council
Members raise serious questions about their intentions for use of Public Funds due to the seeming
lack of transparency, accountability and complete absence of goodwill efforts at public outreach.
WatchOurCity.com reminds Council Members that residents of the City of Huntington Park
have a right to participate and be informed, and demand transparency and accountability
with the City Budget process.
The City of Huntington Park does not seem to have a municipal code section that dictates
procedures for public input of proposed City Budget.
In comparison, the City Charter for Downey specifically includes Section 1202. BUDGET.
SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL which allows at least 35 days for review. Section 1203.
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING allows for public participation and input.
Even the City of Compton holds public hearings on the proposed city budget allowing ample time
for citizen review and input.
In Huntington Park, there is no public hearing scheduled or pubic input sought for the proposed
budget.
WHAT IS CITY COUNCIL HIDING?
Members raise serious questions about their intentions for use of Public Funds due to the seeming
lack of transparency, accountability and complete absence of goodwill efforts at public outreach.
WatchOurCity.com reminds Council Members that residents of the City of Huntington Park
have a right to participate and be informed, and demand transparency and accountability
with the City Budget process.
The City of Huntington Park does not seem to have a municipal code section that dictates
procedures for public input of proposed City Budget.
In comparison, the City Charter for Downey specifically includes Section 1202. BUDGET.
SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL which allows at least 35 days for review. Section 1203.
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING allows for public participation and input.
Even the City of Compton holds public hearings on the proposed city budget allowing ample time
for citizen review and input.
In Huntington Park, there is no public hearing scheduled or pubic input sought for the proposed
budget.
WHAT IS CITY COUNCIL HIDING?
| Charter of the City of Downey Calls for Public Hearing Process on City Budget Proposal For link, click here Following is an abstract of the Charter of the City of Downey Section 1202. BUDGET. SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL. At least 35 days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the City Manager shall submit to the City Council the proposed budget and shall make copies of the proposed budget available for inspection. After reviewing the same and making such revisions as it may deem advisable, the City Council shall determine the time for the holding of a public hearing thereon and shall cause to be published a notice thereof not less than ten days prior to said hearing, by at least one insertion in the official newspaper. Copies of the proposed budget as amended by the City Council shall be available for inspection. Section 1203. BUDGET. PUBLIC HEARING. At the time so advertised or at any time to which such public hearing shall from time to time be adjourned, the City Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed budget, at which interested persons desiring to be heard shall be given such opportunity. Section 1204. BUDGET. FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION. At the conclusion of the public hearing the City Council shall further consider the proposed budget and make any revisions thereof that it may deem advisable and on or before June 30 it shall adopt the budget with revisions, if any, by the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the total members of the Council. Upon final adoption, the budget shall be in effect for the ensuing fiscal year. Copies thereof, certified by the City Clerk, shall be filed with the City Manager, Designee responsible for the functions of finance, City Treasurer, and the person employed by the City Council to perform the independent audit as provided in Section 1216, and a further copy shall be placed, and shall remain on file, in the office of the City Clerk where it shall be available for public inspection. The budget so certified shall be reproduced and copies made available for the use of the public and of departments, offices and agencies of the City. |
| "Compton Begins Hearing On 2004-05 Budget" Wave Community Newspapers June 9, 2004 By Cynthia Griffin, Wave Staff Writer "COMPTON — The city manager’s office Tuesday unveiled a proposed 2004-05 budget that is $11 million higher than the proposed budget for last year. During a presentation that chronicled the accomplishments for fiscal year 2003-04 as well as what is planned for the coming year, Michael Heriot and his staff produced a budget that calls for $142 million in expenditures, up from last year’s proposal of $131 million. The increase in spending comes in the wake of an increase in expected revenues, most notably from the water fund department. According to projections, residential connection revenues will jump from $156,000 to $1.21 million; commercial connections will increase from $10,405 to $145,902; and industrial connections will jump from $1,560 to $19,000. Another big bump is expected to come in the guise of additional contributions from Proposition A and other funds. That amount is expected to jump from $200,000 to more than $2.3 million. Despite the increase in revenue, Compton resident and CPA Reginald King expressed some concerns about the city’s lack of a reserve fund. “They have zero amount set aside as a reserve, and according to the city charter, a reserve should be set aside,” said King. “There’s no specific amount, but you must have a reserve,” King, who worked three years in the Daytona Beach, Fla., controller’s office and now maintains a private practice specializing in taxation, pointed to neighboring cities such as South Gate and Carson, which he said have healthy reserves, despite the fact that South Gate has experienced financial troubles as well. The other issues in the budget that concerned the CPA were the apparent lack of contingency funds and no variances to take into account the possibility that a department may spend more or less than its allocated budget. City Manager Heriot acknowledged the lack of a reserve and said it is something the council and city manager’s staff are working to turn around. Another budget review hearing will be held Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. in the community meeting room behind the City Council chambers." Copyright © 2004 Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group. All rights reserved. |
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Compton Budget Public Hearing
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| ""When a public official breaches that sacred trust by illegally exploiting their position for personal gain, confidence in responsible government suffers and promoted is the belief that those in government are in it for themselves only and not because they wish to serve and make a difference.". - Donald Thomson, Jr., FBI Agent in Charge, Richmond Virginia |