Score: -4 (1/3/5)

Riverside County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

March Joint Powers Authority: Mission Accomplished, Time to Completely Dissolve*

Published: March 17, 2025 23 pages

View Original PDF

⚠️ 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 12 findings

In violation of the California Government Code §6505.6 and its own joint powers authority agreement, the March JPA Commission has not appointed a professionally qualified commissioner or staff member as its treasurer (i.e., qualified to serve as a treasurer for one of the cities or the county).

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission comply with California Government Code §6505.6 and its own joint powers authority agreement by appointing a professionally qualified commissioner or staff member as treasurer by October 1, 2025. (A professionally qualified treasurer is defined as a person whose academic and work experience qualifies them to serve as treasurer within the cities of Moreno Valley, Perris, or Riverside.) Based on Findings: F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, F-6, and F-10 Financial Impact: Minimal

The March JPA did not perform monthly bank reconciliations for the 2022-2023 fiscal year until the end of the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission require its Chief Executive Officer to prepare, sign, and date a quarterly agenda item confirming that its internal financial controls comply with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) standards no later than October 1, 2025. Based on Findings: F-2, F-3, F-4, and F-5 Financial Impact: Minimal

The March JPA Commission has not complied with its own joint powers agreement by failing to complete annual financial audits within six months following the end of each fiscal year.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission mandate that its staff members complete March JPA annual financial statement audits of the end of each fiscal year no later than August 1, 2025. Based on Findings: F-2, F-3, F-4, and F-5 Financial Impact: Minimal

For the past four years, auditors have consistently reported internal control issues to the March JPA Commission and management, particularly regarding the segregation of duties. These unresolved issues increase the risk of errors, fraud, and unauthorized transactions.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission transfer its March Inland Port Airport Authority to the County of Riverside no later than July 1, 2028. Based on Findings: F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, F-6, F-7, F-8, F-9, and F-10 Financial Impact: Minimal to the March JPA; Moderate to Riverside County

Persistent unresolved internal control issues create uncertainty regarding the accuracy of March JPA's financial records and the effectiveness of its financial procedures.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority dissolve its Utility Authority no later than July 1, 2028. Based on Findings: F-11 Financial Impact: Minimal to Moderate The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers

The March JPA oversees an airport authority. The airport's operating expenses consistently surpass its operational income. The March JPA was not originally intended to become a permanent, stand-alone airport

Related Recommendations (1)

Authority transfer its Successor Agency to the County of Riverside no later than July 1, 2028. Based on Findings: F-11 Financial Impact: Minimal to the March JPA; Minimal to Riverside County

authority governed by non-elected officials who rely heavily on a single administrative staff member.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission dissolves itself no later than December 31, 2028. Based on Findings: F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, F-7, F-8, F-9, F-10, and F-11 Financial Impact: Minimal to Moderate

March JPA Commissioners are appointed to serve on the March JPA Commission. The Commission is not accountable to any single city, county, or state government, including voters.

Related Recommendations (1)

If the March Joint Powers Authority does not agree to dissolve itself by December 31, 2028, the Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission modify its joint powers agreement to convert its appointed commissioner positions into elected positions no later than October 1, 2027. (Candidates should appear on the 2028 California primary election ballot.) Based on Findings: F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, F-6, F-7, F-8, and F-9 Financial Impact: Minimal to the March JPA; Moderate to Cities and Riverside County

March JPA Commissioners' votes may sometimes conflict with the positions held by their respective city councils or county board.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers Authority Commission hire an independent firm to conduct a forensic audit of the March JPA financial records from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023, with a completion deadline of no later than January 1, 2026. Based on Findings: F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, and F-6 Financial Impact: $8,000 to $20,000 The Riverside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March Joint Powers

F10

The County of Riverside has departments and personnel with specialized expertise and resources that the March JPA lacks, enabling it to meet the commercial and general aviation needs at the March Air Reserve Base more efficiently than the small March JPA staff. March JPA can legally transfer its utility authority to the California Gas Company and its

Related Recommendations (1)

R10

Authority Commission develop and approve a succession plan for key staff positions, including the Chief Executive Officer, by October 1, 2025. Based on Findings: F-12 Financial Impact: Minimal (See Next Page) REQUIRED RESPONSES The governmental entities are required to respond to the findings and recommendations listed below. According to California Penal Code §933, governing bodies have 90 days to respond to grand jury report findings and recommendations. The California Penal Code §933.05 outlines the limits within which governing bodies are allowable to respond. REQUIRED RESPONSES Recommendations Locations Findings March JPA Commission

F11

Successor Agency to the County of Riverside.

No recommendations for this finding

F12

The March JPA does not have a succession plan to replace upper management personnel should it be necessary. The March JPA has over $40,000,000 in its "unrestricted" funds.

No recommendations for this finding

Agency Responses 4

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

City of Moreno Valley response to the 2024-2025 Grand Jury Report: March Joint Powers Authority: Mis

March 17, 2025 • 2 pages View Details ▾

PDF

City of Perris response to the 2024-2025 Grand Jury Report: March Joint Powers Authority: Mission Ac

December 08, 2025 • 3 pages • 2 responses • Score: +1 (+1, 0, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

2 responses to findings and recommendations

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

The recommendation has not been implemented by the city, The city does not find the recommendation to convert March Joini ro*ers aotho.ity commissioner positions into directiy elected offices to be warranted or reasonabli. March JPA commissioners are appointed by elected officials in tn"i. ."tp"ctiri jurisdictions and are accountable to their *rstitoents. As such, the city appoints two -Ii,Iarch members of its body to the March JpA. Requiring a sepamt€ election ior Jpe commissioners would create unnecessary complexlty -d ud.ioi.t burden without enhancing accountability or performance. "tiue 10...

March JPA Commissioners' votes may sometimes conflict with the positions held by their respective city councils or county board.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Agree. The findi-nogi is consistent with how representatives are appgintS by legislative bodies to ..*. uorra. or other agencies. This issue was clearly 101 Noilh "D" Street Perris, Califomia 92570 (951) 943-6100 Ext 231 addressed in the March JPA's tesponse to tle prior Grand Jury report titled ..Marginally Transparent" (see F4 from that response, which is copied below verbatim). While votes cast by March JPA Comrnissioneni may at times differ from the positions of the City Council, this does not constitute a conflict. Commissi6llels are expected to exercise independent judpent in tleir role...

Executive Office

April 10, 2024 • 31 pages View Details ▾

PDF

March Joint Powers Authority response to the 2024-2025 Grand Jury Report: March Joint Powers Authority: Mission Accomplished, Time to Completely Dissolve

July 29, 2025 • 10 pages • 8 responses • Score: -5 (+0, 3, -5) View Details ▾

PDF

8 responses to findings and recommendations

The March JPA did not perform monthly bank reconciliations for the 2022-2023 fiscal year until the end of the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The March JPA did not perform monthly bank reconciliotions for the 202 2-202 3 .fiscal year until the end of the 2022-2023.fiscaI year. The respondent agrees with the finding. This was due to staff tumover. and has long since been addressed. F-3 The March JPA Commission has not complied with its own joint povrers agreement by ./itiling ttt complete annual financial uudits within six months following the end of each ./iscal year. The respondent agrees with the finding. This is true lbr some recent years. and was due to staff tumover. The March JPA has since obtained the appropriate resources ...

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

The March JPA Commission has not complied with its own joint powers agreement by failing to complete annual financial audits within six months following the end of each fiscal year.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The March JPA Commission has not complied with its own joint povrers agreement by ./itiling ttt complete annual financial uudits within six months following the end of each ./iscal year. The respondent agrees with the finding. This is true lbr some recent years. and was due to staff tumover. The March JPA has since obtained the appropriate resources to ensure the completion of annual financial audits in a timely manner. F-l For the past.four years. auditors huve consislenlly reported internal control issues to the March JPA Commission und management, pdrticularly regurding the segregation ol t...

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

authority governed by non-elected officials who rely heavily on a single administrative staff member.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

The Riverside Countt' C ivil Grund Jury recommends that the March Joint Pou'ers Authorir2.- Commission dissolves ilself no later than December 3I , 2028. The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefore. The JPC may not dissolve the March JPA - only the member agencies may do this. operating collectively through a joint powers agreement. R-,3 lf the March Joint Pou'ers Authority does not agree to dissolve itsel b.,- December 3 I , 2021|, the Riverside County Cit'il Grand Jury recommends that the Marc'h,loint Pov'ers Auth...

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

F10

Response: Disagree Score: -1

R-j The Rirerside County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the March .loint Powers Authority dissolve its Ulility Authority no luter than July l, 2028. The recommendation requires further analysis. The March JPA is actively working with SoCal Gas to transfer gas services. It is unnecessary to set a deadline for such a transaction because it requires cooperation. ('ivil R-6 The Riverside County Grund,Iury recommends thot the March,loint Pou,ers Authority lransfbr its Successor Agencl'to the County of Riverside no laler than July l. 2028. The recommendation will not be implemented because it is n...

R10

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.