Report 2015-102 Recommendation 20 Responses

Report 2015-102: Central Basin Municipal Water District: Its Board of Directors Has Failed to Provide the Leadership Necessary for It to Effectively Fulfill Its Responsibilities (Release Date: December 2015)

Recommendation #20 To: Central Basin Municipal Water District

To ensure its expenditures do not constitute gifts of public funds, the district should revise its administrative code by June 2016 to include more specific guidance as to what constitutes a reasonable and necessary use of public funds. The guidance should establish restrictions on the amount spent for board member installation ceremonies. It should also include a process for the district to ensure that expenses are reasonable and necessary before it pays them.

6-Month Agency Response

Staff presented revisions to the Administrative Code in February 2016 to the Board of Directors which establish restrictions on the amount spent for board member installation ceremonies. On February 26, 2016, the board adopted revisions to the Administrative Code setting a limit of $2,500 for board member installation ceremony expense.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Staff will present revisions to Administrative Code at the February Administration & Ethics Committee and the Board in February 2016, to include more specific guidance as to what it constitutes a reasonable and necessary use of public funds and establish restrictions on the amount spent for board member installation ceremonies. It will also include a process for the district to ensure that expenses are reasonable and necessary before it pays them.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2015-102

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.