📋
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.
Humboldt County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
38 Humboldt County’s Small Special Districts
⚠️ 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 7 findings
F1
Page 13
Employee performance evaluations in the Assessor’s Office are not being conducted according to the schedule specified by County policy.
F2
Page 13
Absence of the expectation that all employees attain appropriate computer competency, and the lack of adequate support for employees to improve their competency, contribute to declining operational efficiency in the Assessor’s Office. 10
F3
Page 14
The lack of a convenient Web-based system through which citizens can access property information and other public records through the Internet contributes to operational inefficiencies in the Assessor’s Office and to unnecessary delays in recording, processing, and providing information.
F4
Page 14
Regular management and staff meetings are not conducted in the Assessor’s Office.
F5
Page 14
There appears to be a practice of grooming a current employee in the Assessor’s Office to ultimately run for election to the Assessor position.
F6
Page 14
Twenty California counties currently combine the duties of the Assessor with those of other county offices, as permitted by Government Code. Combining offices and functions for purposes of cost and management efficiency could be a benefit to Humboldt County.
F7
Page 14
There is continuing confusion regarding the status of some properties in the County. This was previously noted in the 2006 Grand Jury Report. These unresolved issues are a source of frustration for the Assessor’s Office, for other county departments, and for property owners in Humboldt County.
Recommendations 5
-
R1Page 15• The Humboldt County Auditor shall respond to Findings and Recommendations 1 and 2. • The Humboldt County Community Development Services Department shall respond to Findings and Recommendations 3 and 4.
-
R2Page 12The Assessor should consider the creation of a staff position for the purpose of training and supporting staff in the updating and implementation of technology now and for the future. The duties of this position should also include the development of a Web-based system to facilitate public access to information, documents, and maps.
-
R3Page 12The Assessor should hold regular meetings with management staff, to ensure that all employees have a regular opportunity to discuss office operations and receive direct communication on office expectations, protocol, and procedures.
-
R4Page 12The Board of Supervisors should consider combining the duties of the Assessor’s Office with those of other compatible County offices and report to the citizens of the County the outcome of its consideration.
-
R5Page 12The Assessor’s Office should develop regular and effective communication procedures among County departments that are affected by unresolved property designations. Grand Jury Report 2009-CD-01 Humboldt County’s Small Special Districts