Sacramento County Grand Jury
• 2010-2011
Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District Legacy of Dysfunction
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 11 findings
F1
0 The Board of Directors lacks vision and does not exercise appropriate oversight of the District.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
1 The Board of Directors should undergo formalized management training.
F2
0 Decisions of the Board of Directors are not adequately documented.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
1 Minutes of the board meetings should be finalized in a timely fashion. At a minimum, minutes should be available for approval at the next scheduled board meeting. Recommendations 2.2 Minutes and resolutions should be posted on the District’s website in a timely fashion.
F3
0 The Board has repeatedly failed to hire and retain a qualified general manager.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
1 The Board should create a supportive climate within the District so that the general manager can function effectively.
F4
0 Protracted labor negotiations and disputed job descriptions cause disruption of normal staff operations and damage the working relationship between management and staff.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
1 The District should conduct a survey of water districts to determine appropriate staffing requirements and fair wages and benefits for comparable work.
F5
0 The general work environment at the District is contentious and unpleasant. Staff members have not always worked in the best interest of the District. Trust and respect among staff, management, and Board of Directors is lacking.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
1 The Board, general manager and staff should make it a priority to restore mutual respect, trust and confidence.
F6
0 The financial status of the District is unclear.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
1 The District should hire and retain an experienced qualified bookkeeper.
F7
0 The Board is not receiving up to date financial information that will permit informed decisions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
1 The District should prepare realistic budgets and update them at least quarterly.
F8
0 The District does not have an accounting policies and procedures manual.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
1 The District should prepare and follow a comprehensive manual. The manual should be kept current.
F9
0 Oversight of the district’s finances was so lax that the door was open for fraud and abuse.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
1 The district should conduct a forensic audit of its bank records.
F10
0 Both CDPH and LAFCo are actively trying to help RLECWD solve its problems and properly serve the ratepayers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
1 CDPH and LAFCo should continue to use their combined influence and authority to assist the RLECWD to become a financially sound and capable provider of safe and adequate water.
F11
0 The District is clearly operating in a substandard manner that impedes success in attaining the stated mission of “…supplying water to existing and future customers in a cost effective manner while operating the District in a financially sound manner.”
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
1 If District operations do not show substantial signs of improvement by December 31, 2011, the Board should institute voluntary receivership proceedings, undertake to reorganize into a neighboring water district, or allow itself to be sold. Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District - Legacy of Dysfunction 49
Agency Responses 6
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Rio Linda-Elverta Community Water District
Special District