CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. – The Kern County Grand Jury has released a scathing report on the ongoing crises and leadership failures plaguing California City. This marks the fourth report in the last six years that sheds light on the financial and leadership problems facing the city. The previous reports have highlighted issues such as a financial crisis, leadership crisis, budget crisis, dysfunction, and mistrust in the local government.
In the latest report released on Thursday, the Grand Jury outlined the “dysfunction” within the city and raised concerns about whether the leaders will address the ongoing problems and become more responsive to citizen concerns. Several key factors leading to financial problems were examined in the report. One major contributing factor is the city council’s failure to approve annual budgets on time for the last three years.
The report pointed out that the city’s inability to monitor compliance and enforcement of the cannabis industry is also leading to financial shortcomings. Due to staffing constraints, an outside consultant was hired to analyze cannabis ordinances. The consultant’s report revealed approximately $507,000 in unpaid license and permit fees and uncollected excise taxes from the local cannabis industry, which is negatively impacting the city’s financial outlook.
Another issue highlighted in the report is the constant turnover of city managers in the past two years. This rapid turnover has hindered the city’s ability to efficiently govern and address key issues. To alleviate the burden on the city manager, the report suggested hiring a deputy city manager.
Trust and transparency within the California City City Council were also major concerns addressed in the report. The council has not posted the minutes of public meetings on the city’s website since April 2022, failing to provide transparency to residents. The report also mentioned that meeting minutes from previous council meetings are not regularly placed on the agenda for approval by the council.
To address the city’s numerous challenges, the Grand Jury recommended hiring a full-time city manager and a deputy city manager by specific dates. They also emphasized the urgent need for a financial director to establish and maintain financial stability and long-term planning city-wide. Additionally, the report called for greater transparency and accountability from the California City City Council.
The Kern County Grand Jury report portrays California City as a city in trouble, grappling with ongoing crises and leadership failures. Its findings and recommendations shed light on the pressing need for improvements in financial management, leadership stability, and transparency within the local government. As residents await action to address these issues, the long-term future of California City remains uncertain.