Sanger Herald 6-21-18 E-edition

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Weekly Newspaper Sanger (Fresno County) CA 93657
Emphasis on public safety
50¢ (tax included) Grand jury
By Dick Sheppard
Sanger Herald
Anyone who doubts that Sanger believes in public safety should take a look at the proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-2019 the city council will consider adopting this evening.
More than two-thirds of the pro- posed general fund expenses for the next fiscal year are created by the po- lice, fire and ambulance departments.
The $7.5 million combined total of the departments is more than 67 per- cent of the $12.7 million budget.
The general fund is a part of a larger proposed $46.5 million overall budget for the next fiscal year which starts on July 1.
The spending plan for the balanced general fund budget projects a surplus of more than $120,000, while the over- all budget anticipates a deficit because of anticipated work on longstanding sewer and water issues.
The $12.7 million general fund bud- get covers day to day expenses and most of the wages and benefits, which make up almost three-quarters of the general fund budget.
Almost all of the money to pay for general fund expenses comes from people who live in Sanger or who do business in Sanger: people who pay property, sales, utility, franchise and other taxes; buy licenses or permits; pay fines, recovery costs or service charges.
Theremainingalmost$34 million
sides with
Ambulance $1.2 million
Fire $2.5 million
Police $4.8 million
Editor's note:
This explanation of what a grand jury is and is not was first published on May 28, 2009 when the grand jury issued a report critical of Sanger officials. We pulled it out of the archives, dusted it off and updated it for our April 5, 2012 edition when the grand jury came back to town. Then, when members of the grand jury showed up in 2015 at
a city council meeting we headed for the archives again
and now, in 2018, it's once again on the front page of the Herald. Some of the court personnel have changed since its first publication, but the information is still accurate and relevant. Four grand jury investigations in only about 10 years may be a new California record, maybe even a new national record. It's certainly not one to make us proud.
We sincerely hope this will be the final time we have to explain how a grand jury works.
By Vanessa Rakis-Garabedian
Sanger Herald
The grand jury is as old as the state constitution, but it may be one of the least understood facets of the govern- mental system.
“The grand jury is an important part of the government that the public doesn’t know enough about,” said Fresno County Jury and Public Ser- vices Manager Sherry Spears.
The grand jury has two arms: one that works as a civil grand jury and
is in session at all times, and one that works as a criminal grand jury that is only in session on a case-by-case basis.
The civil grand jury is often re- ferred to as a “watchdog” for govern- mental agencies, said retired Superior
Court Judge Robert Oliver.
“The grand jury is a constitution-
ally mandated body that investigates and reports on civil matters dealing with government in Fresno County,” said Oliver.
The grand jury is one avenue through which citizens can voice their concerns and hold their government in check.
Investigations and reports from the grand jury can impact the com- munity in a positive way, Oliver said. The grand jury can influence how public funds are spent, prescribe how spending is documented, improve public service, save taxpayer dollars and hand out commendations to well- managed departments.
“The grand jury is the linkage
between the citizens and their govern- ment,” said Robert Gutierrez, the chairman of promotion and public-
ity for the California Grand Jurors’ Association. “It’s the watchdog over governmental affairs. It makes the local government more effective and efficient. It’s an essential component of American politics.”
The civil grand jury consists of 19 Fresno County citizens who serve for one full year starting July 1 and end- ing June 30. During the year, jurors serve from 40 to 80 hours per month.
Once the grand jury is formed, the group divides into subcommittees according to subjects under investiga- tion. For example, a committee may be dedicated to budget matters or is-
needed to cover the remaining pro- posed expenses, outside the general fund, is from several special funds which are not supposed to feed into or take from the general fund.
"Enterprise" funds like water, sewer and disposal are supposed to be self sustaining. That is, revenue from each of those funds is supposed to be used to pay for the expenses in each of those funds and is not supposed to be used to help balance the general fund.
The Measure S sales and use tax which usually produces a little more than $2 million each year goes into one of those designated funds. That is, the money is only supposed to be used for designated public safety purposes. Use of that money was a controver-
sial issue during the council's budget discussions last year and is likely to be even more controversial this year because of the grand jury report re- leased last Thursday.
The report agrees with an oversight committee contention that pay raises for many public safety personnel, already built into this year's budget proposal, should not come from the Measure S fund.
The council meeting in city hall, 1700 7th Street, will begin at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerherald@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald during busi- ness hours at (559) 875-2511.
By Dick Sheppard
Sanger Herald
It was beginning to look like Sue Simpson, the committee chairperson, was going to fin- ish her term on the Measure S Citizens Oversight Committee on June 30 with not much to look back on but frustration.
The committee on June 12 declined to endorse a city staff prepared Measure S budget and a Measure S 10 year spend- ing plan that will be going to the city council this evening as part of a proposed city budget for fiscal year 2018-2019.
Simpson's objection to the Measure S budget and 10-year plan was based on a city man- ager recommended and a city council approved pay raise for all public safety employees that is being paid for out of Mea- sure S funds.
She and the committee have long contended that Measure S money should only be used to pay for wage hikes for the 10 public safety employees on the Measure S payroll, not all public safety employees.
Then a Fresno County Grand Jury report about Sanger's Measure S issues was released on June 14 - and it agreed with Simpson and the committee.
"Public safety pay increases funded from Measure S should be restricted to Measure S hired personnel," said the grand jury.
Simpson's reaction to the report, "My thanks go out to the grand jury members who compiled their report spending hours on detailed interviews, research, and thoughtful study.
"Having served as chair of the oversight committee during this quagmire, I fully concur with their findings and cheer their list of recommendations.
"Here’s the big question - now what? Will the Sanger city council, City of Sanger leader- ship and local union members respond with integrity to mend broken promises to the public? The time for a major course
Sue Simpson
correction is now."
The grand jury comment
was in its "Recommendations" section, which means it's just that, a recommendation and not a demand.
It's a civil grand jury, not a criminal grand jury, and there are no penalties for not follow- ing its recommendations.
"I have reviewed the report, and the City will very carefully assess and consider the find- ings and recommendations.
"Responses to the report will be contemplated in a public meeting," said mayor Frank Gonzalez.
The grand jury serves as an objective third party and while its "Findings" and "Recommen- dations" may influence public opinion, they may or may not carry much weight with the government entity that was investigated.
James Miser, the oversight committee member who has been the most critical of the city manager and city council commented, "I support the grand jury findings. The grand jury fully supported the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC) and our opinions. They just added liaisons, legal opin- ions and archiving recommen- dations to what the committee has been saying all along.
"Maybe this time someone will listen to us.
"The city budget will be acted upon tonight. For the second year in a row, the COC has not approved the Measure S city budget. Whether or not the city council will follow grand jury recommendation on
See REPORT, page 8A
Defining a grand jury
A grand jury is a ‘watchdog’ group over county governmental agencies
oversight
committee
"Responses to the report will be contemplated in a public meeting."
Mayor Frank Gonzalez
New oversight committee members
See DEFINING, page 2A Accident
By Dick Sheppard
Sanger Herald
The makeup of the Measure S Citizens Oversight Committee will be changed this evening with the appoint- ment by the city council of three new members to the five person committee.
Mayor Frank Gonzalez will recom- mend the council approve the appoint- ments of John Perez-Arcuri, Frank Valles and Jacob Villagomez to fill vacancies on the committee.
JoAnn Mares resigned from the committee about a month ago because she planned to move out of the area and
the two-year terms of Sue Simpson and Tony Gonzalez will come to an end on June 30.
Perez-Arcuri is a retired Marine Corps officer who serves on the plan- ning commission. Valles, a former member of the planning commission,
is manager of the Me-n-Ed's on Bethel and Villagomez is an economic develop- ment specialist for the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerherald@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
investigated
Herald staff report
Police are still investigating the cause of the traffic accident which resulted in the death of Tommy Wright III, 39, of Sanger. Wright died of injuries sustained in a
car versus pedestrian accident at about 2 a.m. on June 14 on Bethel Avenue. The driver of the car told police she did not see Wright lying in the roadway before she hit him.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact detective Crystal Oropeza at 399- 8023.
• June 21 - City Council meeting, 6 p.m., city hall, 1700 7th Street.
• June 26 - School board meeting, 7 p.m., district office, 1905 7th Street.
SANGER HERALD: A MID VALLEY PUBLISHING NEWSPAPER • (559) 875-2511 • www.thesangerherald.com
THURSDAY
JUNE 21, 2018
VOL 129 NO. 25
2 sections, 16 pages
CLASSIFIED 3B LEGALS 4,5B BUSINESS DIRECTORY 6B LIFE STYLES 3B OBITUARIES 2A OPINION 3A SPORTS 1B POLICE LOG 2A WEATHER 8A