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“These bills will help ensure that local communities and agencies have the assistance they need from the State to keep their communities fiscally healthy, and that the State has the authority to step in to identify and prevent problems,” Chiang said.
He added, “The city of Bell has been a vivid illustration of the devastation that can occur when there is little accountability over how local dollars are spent in our communities. It is time for the State to have a role in making sure sound fiscal management is being practiced at the local level so that all public dollars are protected.”
While the State Controller’s Office can audit local agencies over their handling of state and federal funds, and when there are problems seen in financial reports filed with the controller, there is no authority to audit local taxes, bonds or other funds.
SB 186 by Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) would expand the controller’s authority to perform discretionary audits to ensure compliance with local ordinances and state law.
“SB 186 will help prevent public corruption and fraud by providing greater public oversight of government funds,” said Kehoe. “The public deserves to have confidence in their local governments and know that public officials are acting ethically and legally. This bill will do that.”
A bill by Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Santa Monica, will authorize the State Controller to conduct an audit of a local agency facing serious financial stress and would assemble a committee of fiscal experts to provide advice and assistance to local agencies in need.
“The state should not wait until a local entity is at risk of complete financial failure before lending assistance,” Pavley said. “This bill will help prevent problems at the local level, and allow the State to step in with a variety of resources to keep the agency solvent.”
AB 229 by Assembly Member Ricardo Lara (D-Southgate) would increase the number of quality control reviews the Controller can perform of independent, private auditors hired by local governments to prepare their annual audits.
“Private firms hired by the local agency to perform their annual audits must adhere to strong accounting procedures and act independently of the entity that is paying their bill,” Lara said. “AB 229 will overhaul our system of auditing California’s cities and counties to ensure that every dollar is accounted for and every agency is held to a higher standard of accountability.”
Most local government agencies are required to file financial transaction reports with the Controller. But with relatively small penalties, some refuse to file, or file late, resulting in little, or late, financial oversight by the State.
AB 276 by Assembly Member Luis A. Alejo, D-Salinas, would double the penalties, and triple them in serious cases, and require the Controller to audit the agency if it fails to file a report for three consecutive years.
“These reports provide insight into a local agency’s financial health in order to identify any mismanagement,” Alejo said. “Agencies that habitually fail to comply would face stronger consequences.”
Under current law, the Controller’s Office is required to prescribe uniform accounting and reporting procedures to counties and special districts.
AB 253 by Assembly Member Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, would expand that requirement to include cities. It also would create a committee made up of city officials and finance officers to assist in developing the guidelines.
“Required guidelines will help all cities manage and report their finances in a uniform manner,” Smyth said. “This bill will increase the level of accountability and professionalism of the financial reports filed by cities.”
“This bi-partisan legislative package shows that we all share the goal of improving California’s fiscal health at all levels of government,” Controller Chiang said. “I thank the Senators and Assembly Members for their leadership in this effort.”
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Board committees provide forums for interested members of the public to express their views and present proposals to the board members in their capacity as committee members.
The Legislative Committee will be chaired by Board Chairman Jerome E. Horton.
The Legislative Committee recommends board positions on bills before the Legislature and the governor and discusses legislative changes for possible board sponsorship.
The Customer Service and Administrative Efficiency Committee will be chaired by Board Vice Chair Michelle Steel.
The Customer Service and Administrative Efficiency Committee addresses issues that affect customer service to taxpayers and feepayers, as well as administrative operations throughout the board.
The Business Taxes Committee will be chaired by Board Member Betty T. Yee.
The Business Taxes Committee considers matters related to the BOE’s administration of tax and fee laws and proposed changes to regulations, policies, and procedures.
The committee provides a forum for interested members of the public to express their views and present proposals regarding the provisions and policies related to Board-administered tax and fee laws.
The Property Tax Committee will be chaired by Sen. George Runner, Second District Board of Equalization Member.
The Property Tax Committee promotes uniformity and consistency in property tax assessment and administration by providing guidance to county assessors and their staffs, the BOE’s Property Tax staff, and other property tax practitioners through the Assessors’ Handbook, property tax rules, and other written guidelines.
The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board.
The BOE collects more than $48 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.
For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.
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Special menus have been prepared for dinner Saturday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and there will be a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with old favorites and new dishes.
On Monday, Feb. 14, Zino's will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a sweetheart of a menu.
There will be live music in the dining room each evening and Sunday as well.
Get your reservations in early at 707-279-1620.
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SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang on Thursday released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in January.
Total receipts for the month were $714.5 million, or 8.1 percent higher than estimates found in the Governor’s proposed 2011-12 State Budget.
ales taxes were up $192.4 million (19.2 percent) in January, but corporate taxes were down $69.2 million (-16.4 percent).
“January revenues rose above expectations, but unemployment has remained in the double digits. And while the stock market was up, January corporate taxes were down,” said Chiang. “These mixed messages tell us we still have a long way to go. We urgently need a solid budget with real solutions for California.”
In the month of January, personal income taxes came in $628.4 million above (8.8 percent) estimates. Part of this jump was due to lower-than-expected taxpayer refund payments, possibly because taxpayers are filing later than usual.
The State Controller’s Office expected to issue $380 million in the month of January, but only $197 million was sent to taxpayers.
The state faced an $18.5 billion cash deficit on January 31. That deficit was covered by $8.5 billion of internal borrowing – short term loans from special funds – and $10 billion of external borrowing.
The controller also launched a new section of his Web site Thursday showing basic information on State revenues and program funding over the past 10 years.
State Finances 101, along with January 2011's financial statement and the summary analysis, can be found on the controller's Web site at www.sco.ca.gov.