📋

Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Butte County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

Oroville: A City Deals with Today’s Problem

View PDF View Full Original

⚠️ 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 16 findings

F1 Page 59

Oroville’s City Departments are understaffed due to the 2013 layoffs, which were done to balance the General Fund.

F2 Page 59

Understaffing has resulted in a larger workload for City Employees.

F3 Page 59

Oroville’s 2014-2015 Adopted Budget shows the General Fund has a surplus rather than a deficit.

F4 Page 59

The largest percentage of revenue for the City comes from its Sales Tax.

F5 Page 59

Employee salaries and benefits are the City’s largest budget expense. 41

F6 Page 60

Police and Fire represent over two-thirds of the City’s salary and benefits expense.

F7 Page 60

There are three Department Heads that manage six Departments.

F8 Page 60

Oroville is in the process of annexing two areas south of the City.

F9 Page 60

The annexation will leave the Police and Fire Departments more understaffed than they already are.

F10 Page 60

The City is seeking a one percent increase in Sales Tax to pay for more Police and Fire Personnel.

F11 Page 60

Police and Fire now come under the heading of Public Safety, although they are still separate entities.

F12 Page 60

Planning and Development utilizes mid-managers to help with the workload and make the development process run smoother.

F13 Page 60

Finance has updated its procedures and outdated software to help with its workload.

F14 Page 60

The City Council, Department Heads and Managers use meetings as a way to resolve conflicts.

F15 Page 60

Dealing with homeless people has become a problem for the City.

F16 Page 60

Water has begun to be a problem the City Parks will need to address, particularly if drought conditions continue.

Recommendations 8

R1
Page 60

Oroville needs to find creative ways of adding staff to the City Departments, particularly Police and Fire.
R2
Page 60

Pursue the one percent Sales Tax increase by letting the community know exactly how the funds will be used.
R3
Page 60

Since the Annexation will likely be approved, Oroville should look into ways of generating revenue with Planning and Development.
R4
Page 60

The City should continue to use mid-managers as a way to assist Department Heads, particularly with the understaffing happening in Departments.
R5
Page 60

Oroville should update its computer software programs and procedures for each Department to ensure efficiency and transparency. 42
R6
Page 61

The various elements of City Government should continue to use meetings as a way of communicating with one another and resolving any conflicts.
R7
Page 61

Oroville needs to continue to manage its homeless problem by supporting programs that get people off the streets and into places that help them deal with their problems.
R8
Page 61

The City needs to develop a plan for dealing with its water problem, including using native species as a way of keeping their parks and recreation areas from becoming brown or completely paved over with concrete.