Kern County Grand Jury • 2021-2022

Westside Water Authority Water - More Precious Than Gold

Published: June 02, 2021 10 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 5 findings

F1
By entering into the Westside Water Authority JPA in 2020, the Authority has created two overlapping entities with many similar parts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends the Westside Water Authority research amending the JPA to include items handled by the Westside District Water Authority JPA, thereby eliminating the need for the Westside District Water Authority JPA. (Finding 1)
F2
Without a proper software system, the Authority’s financial personnel are doing all the work and having an outside vendor do their payroll.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends the Westside Water Authority update their financial software to include in-house payroll, (Finding 2)
F3
Portions of the websites under the control of the Authority are not consistently maintained or updated.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Grand Jury recommends the Westside Water Authority update all member districts and other agency websites they are responsible for, including Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes of all member districts and JPAs, by the end of July 2021. (Finding 3) NOTES: • The Westside Water Authority, Westside District Water Authority, Belridge Water Storage District, Berrenda Mesa Water District, Lost Hills Water District, and Dudley Ridge Water District should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. RESPONSE DEADLINES:  REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM:  PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301  TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. APPENDIX: REFERENCE WEBSITE LINKS https://www.westsidewa.org/ https://www.westsidedwa.org/ https://www.belridgewsd.com/ https://www.bmwd.org/ https://www.lhwd.org/ http://www.dudleyridgewd.org/ https://www.kcwa.com/
F4
The practice of non-standardization of budgets and other financial items from member districts leads to an overload on the limited Authority staff.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Grand Jury recommends the Westside Water Authority work with member districts to standardize budgets which will streamline financial workflow, (Finding 4)
F5
Authority staff is organized and professional while working in an office space too small for their needs. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury would like to thank all who participated in interviews and provided valuable information.
No recommendations for this finding

Comments 3