In a surprising announcement at Thursday’s CCSD meeting, the General Manager and District Counsel told the Board and community that the count had been incorrect. In an audit of the protests spurred by a public records request, the total number of protest letters was changes from 2498 to 2517.
In a press release, available on the CCSD website, the new “official” numbers were apparently shown to the League of Women Voters who “verified the revised certification”:
Per CCSD Customer Service Account
Valid Protests Received: 1,982
Majority Protests Required: 2,001 (3,999 ÷ 2) plus 1
Per CCSD Service Parcel
Valid Protests Received: 1,952
Majority Protests Required: 1,966 (3,929 ÷ 2) plus 1
After announcing with such certainty that the numbers were absolutely correct and the League of Women Voters certified the count was correct – turns out the count was incorrect.
All this raises more questions than it resolves. If the count of letters was incorrect, how can we know the number of protests required is correct? This is another example of a mistake that magnifies the incompetence of the staff and brings into question the value of having the League certify the count.
I hope the members of the Board don’t simply dismiss this error, as they have many other incidents, and chalk it up to a mistake anyone could make and therefore let it go. This behavior borders completely unacceptable for elected officials and public servants.
I cannot speak for the CFR, but most individuals I’ve talked to understand a rate increase is needed – the objection is to the process used and the utterly dismissive and disrespectful treatment of community members who are asking for accountability and explanation. No one should have to blindly accept a hit to their monthly budget without adequate justification and some measure of accountability.
What I wrote earlier this week is even more true with this new information: It is not about the few dollars every other month, its about an irresponsible, unresponsive public agency and elected officials that see the law as an obstacle, rather than best practices limits on their authority.
Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice
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I have meet so many wonderful people in my beloved home of Cambria. A friendly happy group, honest and open.
Board of Directors, staff at the CCSD are different.
Again.
A complete turnover in November,
Both locally and nationally has never been more needed.
Would someone please tell me what value this is……is the protest valid? Does that mean that no increase will happen this year and next and no 8.1 million loan? What prompted the change?????