Kings County Grand Jury
2024-2025
Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
The Corcoran Cemetery District Board of Directors was named as a Required Respondent to the Kings County Civil Grand Jury’s reports dated February 28, 2022, March 17, 2023, and March 24, 2024.
F2:
Neither the Kings County Superior Court nor the Kings County Civil Grand Jury has received a response from the Corcoran Cemetery Board of Directors regarding the February 28, 2022, March 17, 2023, and March 24, 2024 Grand Jury reports.
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The Home Garden Community Services District meets the criteria required by Cal. Gov. Code Section 17520 to be classified as a special district and be held responsible for audit compliance. 22
F2:
The last audited financial statement for Home Garden Community Services District was for the year ending June 30, 2013. This twelve-year gap makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to apply for grants and special funding.
F3:
The Kings County Civil Grand Jury did not find evidence of any special agreement between Home Garden and the County of Kings that would exempt Home Garden from completing audits at least annually.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Home Garden Community Services District shall bring their financial statements up to date by completing or scheduling a financial audit by June 1, 2025, as any further delay affects the district’s ability to apply for much-needed grant funds.
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
In Kings County, emergency declarations are declared by one member of the County Board of Supervisors.
F2:
The citizens of Kings County and the Kings County Office of Emergency Services would benefit from being under the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.
F3:
Currently there is not adequate or speedy professional training taking place.
F4:
The last Emergency Operations Plan was updated in November 2015.
Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
To avoid any semblance of impropriety or inefficiency, and to define the rolls of county officials, the declaration of a county emergency should be handled by someone other than a single Board of Supervisor member.
R2:
The Kings County Office of Emergency Services should be a separate department in the county when the Board of Supervisors makes it a priority and funding becomes available. The Kings County Office of Emergency Services and staff should be under the jurisdiction of the Kings County Sheriff’s Department until such time that funding and space become available for the agency to exist as a stand- alone County department.
R3:
The Office of Emergency Services conduct a full-scale training exercise to include the Board of Supervisors, before September 1, 2025, to be followed up by a detailed evaluation and review.
R4:
The Kings County Emergency Operations Plan should be given priority and updated by September 1, 2025. REQUIRED RESPONSE Pursuant to Penal Code Section § 933 (c), provided in part: “No later than 90 days after the Grand Jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
No Policy and Procedures Manual could be found regarding the requirements to receive or disbursement and audits of County funds to Special Districts in Kings County.
F2:
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were disbursed by request of the Kings County Board of Supervisors to the three Cemetery Districts (Special Districts) in Kings County between December of 2022 and January of 2023. Specifically, Corcoran Cemetery District received $100,000.00, Hanford Cemetery District received $260,000.00, and Lemoore Cemetery District received $140,000.00. This was done without any formal requests or justification by the Cemetery Districts, and no tracking or auditing was done by Kings County to ensure funds were allocated in compliance with applicable agreements.
F3:
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were disbursed by request of the Kings County Board of Supervisors to the four Community Service Districts (Special Districts) in Kings County between November of 2021 and October 2023. These funds were to be allocated towards residents’ utility bills in arrears in the community. Specifically, Armona Community Services District received $66,729.63, Home Garden Community Services District received $244,513.24, Kettleman City Community Services District received $87,741.17, and Stratford Public Utility District received $62,824.88. This was done without any formal requests or written justification by the Community Service Districts, and no tracking or auditing has been done by Kings County to ensure funds were allocated and/or utilized in compliance with the applicable agreements.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
A policy and procedures manual shall be developed and published regarding the requirements for disbursement of public funds to Special Districts in Kings County by September 1, 2025.
R2:
Audits shall be conducted of American Rescue Plan Act funds that were disbursed to the Special Cemetery Districts of Corcoran, Hanford and Lemoore by August 1, 2025.
R3:
Audits shall be conducted of American Rescue Plan Act funds that were disbursed to the Special Community Service Districts of Armona, Home Garden, Kettleman City and Stratford by August 1, 2025. 69
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The Corcoran Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees was designated as a Required Respondent to the Kings County Civil Grand Jury’s March 22, 2024, report titled “Corcoran High School Policy and Procedures Regarding Sexual Assault/Hazing”.
F2:
The Corcoran Joint Unified School District Superintendent was designated as a Required Respondent to the Kings County Civil Grand Jury’s March 22, 2024, report titled “Corcoran High School Policy and Procedures Regarding Sexual Assault/Hazing.”
F3:
The Kings County Superior Court has not received any response from the Corcoran Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees regarding the March 22, 2024, report despite the 90-day legal deadline of July 1, 2024.
F4:
The Kings County Civil Grand Jury has not received any response from the Corcoran Joint Unified School District Superintendent regarding the March 22, 2024, report despite the 90-day legal deadline of July 1, 2024.
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
The launch of Behavioral Health’s mobile crisis units will not fully address the lack of mental health crisis services in Kings County.
F2:
The absence of a mental health Crisis Stabilization Unit negatively impacts Kings County citizens.
F3:
The lack of a Psychiatric Health Facility adversely affects Kings County residents’ lives.
F4:
Kings County residents would benefit from a local Crisis Residential Treatment Facility.
F5:
A local Mental Health Crisis campus would benefit Kings County taxpayers. 33
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Establish a mental health crisis facility while supporting mobile crisis units to address the mental health crisis needs of Kings County residents.