Palm Springs City Council Financial Oversight Haughtiness?
Palm Springs, California. The City of Palm Springs is one that doesn't have a city controller, auditor or similar in-house financial watchdog department. There are official city commissions with responsibilities in many different areas, but none exist to keep an eye on city finances. The lack of an in-house independent financial inspector may be due to budget constraints and the relatively small size of the local government operation. On the other hand, the lack of an independent citizen finance commission clearly results from decisions by the city council, and presumably to discourage independent continuing scrutiny of local finances.
City council members also serve as directors of the Redevelopment Agency. In that role they are responsible for making decisions that often have a significant impact on the community. Their decision-making role requires they have considerable expertise in such fields as finance and real estate development. They often don't, and yet none of their decisions benefit from the services of a city commission created to provide assistance and expertise. Is it unreasonable to assume the community would be better served if a Redevelopment Advisory Commission existed comprised of citizens with financial, development and other expertise?
The city budget is prepared by staff under the City Manager's direction for approval by the council. It's a process that includes costs to continue existing services, provision for new services, appropriate service reductions and, of course, council member preferred project expenditures. The budget is an area where citizen involvement and continuing scrutiny would seem not only appropriate, but mandated. And yet there are no provisions for other than a cursory community role in the process. Why do some cities feel it's important that their financial affairs be continuously and independently reviewed, and yet Palm Springs officials don't share that concern? Is it unreasonable to believe a Finance and Audit Commission comprised of citizens with financial expertise would better serve the community by reviewing expenditures and identifying inappropriate, questionable and/or wasteful spending?
This year we will be electing or reelecting a Mayor and two council members. Will any of the candidates include a platform promise to see a citizens Redevelopment Advisory Commission and a Finance/Audit Commission created as part of the city's governing structure? Will any be asked to make that commitment?
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
City council members also serve as directors of the Redevelopment Agency. In that role they are responsible for making decisions that often have a significant impact on the community. Their decision-making role requires they have considerable expertise in such fields as finance and real estate development. They often don't, and yet none of their decisions benefit from the services of a city commission created to provide assistance and expertise. Is it unreasonable to assume the community would be better served if a Redevelopment Advisory Commission existed comprised of citizens with financial, development and other expertise?
The city budget is prepared by staff under the City Manager's direction for approval by the council. It's a process that includes costs to continue existing services, provision for new services, appropriate service reductions and, of course, council member preferred project expenditures. The budget is an area where citizen involvement and continuing scrutiny would seem not only appropriate, but mandated. And yet there are no provisions for other than a cursory community role in the process. Why do some cities feel it's important that their financial affairs be continuously and independently reviewed, and yet Palm Springs officials don't share that concern? Is it unreasonable to believe a Finance and Audit Commission comprised of citizens with financial expertise would better serve the community by reviewing expenditures and identifying inappropriate, questionable and/or wasteful spending?
This year we will be electing or reelecting a Mayor and two council members. Will any of the candidates include a platform promise to see a citizens Redevelopment Advisory Commission and a Finance/Audit Commission created as part of the city's governing structure? Will any be asked to make that commitment?
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
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Posted by Desert Observer at 2/12/2011 3:45 PM 
Categories: City Council
Tags: Palm Springs City Council
Categories: City Council
Tags: Palm Springs City Council
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