When I began looking at CAC in early 2025, I found a dearth of information. The most recent audited financial report had not been posted on the website as required by law and it took two requests to get them to do so.
When the budget process began a Board member told me that the President said I had all the information I needed when all there was the single audited financial statement and would need a FOIA request for more information, which was false.
I was told that I could not see a preliminary budget until it was approved by the Board. When public comments were on the agenda at the budget approval meeting, I questioned how the public could comment on a budget they were not allowed to see and only then was given a copy.
I saw no evidence that the Board spent 10 minutes discussing the budget in front of the public before it was approved. Subsequent inquiries confirmed that there were no documents or meetings to, beyond a three-page budget summary with one page of bullet points. That was it for $100 million in expenditures.
The information I’m sharing with you know was the result of an exhaustive series of documented e-mails and a threat of a lawsuit because they were with either (1) violating the public records law (2) violating the open meeting law or 3) abdicating their fiduciary responsibility by not addressing significant financial issues.
After receiving that information, the district cooperated with answers to follow-up questions, but this came to a halt when the CAC attorney basically said that I was asking too many questions. This was triggered by a request for job descriptions for non-instructional departments and supervisors accounting for millions of dollars. His exact letter and my reply can be found here * CAC Tells Me to Pound Sand
The Board was copied in on all correspondence, up until the last month, for the year, and did nothing but were copied again after the attorney’s letter. The departure of the CFO after her credit fraud arrest may have set them back but saying they’re shorthanded rings hollow when they refuse to tell you what their employees do.
As I told the board at their meeting and in writing future questions will be shared with the public so that the voters and constituents can decide whether the questions are relevant.
CAC Monitor 