Score: +9
(14/2/5)
Humboldt County Grand Jury
• 2017-2018
Is Measure Z Measuring Up
⚠️ 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 14 findings
F1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds Measure Z allocations have been mostly allocated according to the original intent of providing public safety to citizens of Humboldt County.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds if Measure Z is not approved in the next funding cycle the results to the county could be catastrophic, particularly with respect to public safety.
Related Recommendations (6)
R1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office to enter a contract with an outside firm to perform an annual independent audit of all Measure Z expenditures. The County Administrative Office should enter this contract no later than December 31, 2018. (F2, F3)
R2
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors fund the independent annual audits recommended in R1. (F2, F3, F4)
R3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form an ad hoc committee to create an ongoing process for increasing accountability and transparency in the tracking and monitoring of all Measure Z expenditures. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4)
R4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form a second ad hoc committee to develop criteria and a procedure to measure effectiveness of the funds allocated. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4, F5, F11)
R5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors assign the tracking and monitoring of expenditure responsibilities to an outside entity and an ad hoc Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee. This group should supplement the County Administrative Office and Auditor-Controller Office by January 2, 2019. (F2, F3, F5, F6, F8)
R7
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office to post new information regarding tracking, monitoring, and audits on the Measure Z web page by January 2, 2019. (F2) 10
F3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds that before the November 2014 vote on Measure Z, the public was told Measure Z would be subject to annual independent audits, but no such audits have taken place to date which compromises transparency and public trust.
Related Recommendations (5)
R1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office to enter a contract with an outside firm to perform an annual independent audit of all Measure Z expenditures. The County Administrative Office should enter this contract no later than December 31, 2018. (F2, F3)
R2
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors fund the independent annual audits recommended in R1. (F2, F3, F4)
R3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form an ad hoc committee to create an ongoing process for increasing accountability and transparency in the tracking and monitoring of all Measure Z expenditures. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4)
R4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form a second ad hoc committee to develop criteria and a procedure to measure effectiveness of the funds allocated. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4, F5, F11)
R5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors assign the tracking and monitoring of expenditure responsibilities to an outside entity and an ad hoc Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee. This group should supplement the County Administrative Office and Auditor-Controller Office by January 2, 2019. (F2, F3, F5, F6, F8)
F4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the failure of the Board of Supervisors to perform independent audits of over $50M in Measure Z funds allocated to date contributes to a lack of transparency.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors fund the independent annual audits recommended in R1. (F2, F3, F4)
R3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form an ad hoc committee to create an ongoing process for increasing accountability and transparency in the tracking and monitoring of all Measure Z expenditures. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4)
R4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form a second ad hoc committee to develop criteria and a procedure to measure effectiveness of the funds allocated. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4, F5, F11)
F5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds there is no current means of measuring or comparing the effectiveness of expenditures made with Measure Z funds, although “weigh[ing] the value of the various proposals” is one of the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee’s stated purposes.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form a second ad hoc committee to develop criteria and a procedure to measure effectiveness of the funds allocated. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4, F5, F11)
R5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors assign the tracking and monitoring of expenditure responsibilities to an outside entity and an ad hoc Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee. This group should supplement the County Administrative Office and Auditor-Controller Office by January 2, 2019. (F2, F3, F5, F6, F8)
F6
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds that improved monitoring and tracking of all Measure Z expenditures would bring greater transparency to the process and increase community trust.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors assign the tracking and monitoring of expenditure responsibilities to an outside entity and an ad hoc Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee. This group should supplement the County Administrative Office and Auditor-Controller Office by January 2, 2019. (F2, F3, F5, F6, F8)
F7
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the “public safety/essential services” language in the November 2014 ballot to be broad and vague which has created an environment of multiple interpretations and different understandings of what qualifies as public safety and essential services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to identify two members to provide input to the entity developing future Measure Z ballot language. These instructions should be made by September 1, 2019. (F7)
F8
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds outside entities and recipients of Measure Z funding are subjected to different reporting requirements than county entities, a practice that creates disparities in accountability.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors assign the tracking and monitoring of expenditure responsibilities to an outside entity and an ad hoc Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee. This group should supplement the County Administrative Office and Auditor-Controller Office by January 2, 2019. (F2, F3, F5, F6, F8)
F9
Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the Measure Z page on the county’s website easy to navigate, containing pertinent past and current information, which promotes an opportunity for transparency and accountability.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee developed a satisfactory application process for people to apply for Measure Z funding.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee developed an adequate process to analyze applications and to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors; however, this process needs to be improved.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office and Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to form a second ad hoc committee to develop criteria and a procedure to measure effectiveness of the funds allocated. This instruction should be made by October 1, 2018. (F2, F3, F4, F5, F11)
F12
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee satisfactorily interpreted the intent of the November 2014 ballot measure. 9
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee to be in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds that the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee has not been included in the Board of Supervisors process of allocating secondary funds, which is detrimental to transparency and accountability.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors instruct the County Administrative Office to substantively include Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee input for mid-year spending of unspent and unallocated funds. (F14)
Agency Responses 3
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office