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By Robert Clark
The El Cajon City Council meeting of June 9 was notable for what happened--and for what did not happen.
As reported in "East County Magazine" on June 12 ("Smoking Hot Debate"), the Council voted 3-1 to support Senate Bill 151, which would increase the legal age to buy tobacco in California from 18 to 21.
What did not happen was a "budget workshop." The City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For the last four years (2011 through 2014), I have attended the workshops on the first meeting in June, at which time information would be provided to the public regarding the estimated financial results for the current fiscal year, and numbers were available for the proposed budget for the fiscal year commencing the following July 1. The Council would then vote to adopt the budget at the second June meeting.
I am certifiable (as a pack rat), and have saved the handouts for those four years. In 2011, there were 13 pages containing 52 exhibits; in 2012, 48 pages and 47 exhibits; 2013, 10 pages and 37 exhibits; and last year, six pages and 21 exhibits.
How many pages and exhibits were distributed on June 9? Zero. Zilch.
A "preliminary annual budget" will be presented at 1:30.m. on June 23, prior to the regular meeting. However, this will be a "verbal report," and apparently no written information will be provided. The people of El Cajon will not know what is in the budget until minutes before it is adopted.
City Manager Douglas Williford should be asked to explain (and justify) this lack of transparency.
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