[pct-l] cal state park users get used

Tue Jul 24 22:02:49 CDT 2012

The funds were concealed from the Parks Director, the Governor, and the 
Legislature. My point is that if this money had been know about over the 
years, the legislature would likely have appropriated less that was done. 
I'm not saying that the Legislature and Governor knew of the funds; rather 
they would have appropriated less if they had known. This is my opinion and 
I think it is reasonable given the legislature and budget. No conspiracy 
needed. they didn't know so didn't adjust appropriations.

As I read the news reports, the $34 million in the OHV trust fund can only 
be spent for specified OHV purposes. This is not "earmarking". Unless there 
was a change in the relevant law the OHV money could only be used for the 
purposes for which the tax is levied. The other $22 million seems available 
for general park operations.

Until we know who did what and when, it is irresponsible to claim a vast 
conspiracy to deceive.

I was an accountant and have worked in large organizations both 
governmental and for-profit. While naive outsiders may not realize is that 
in an organization as large and complex as the State of California, keeping 
every account reconciled with all the related accounts is a gargantuan 
task. Nor is $50 million that significant when we are dealing with BILLIONS.

Your response alleges numerous facts not in the reports I've read:
     Almost no one even knew that Parks had these large unused balances -- 
one question is how this occurred and whom is responsible.
     The money was not originally designated for some other purpose -- 
rather it was just not spent because fund balances were not properly reported.
      There was no deceptive campaign; rather people just didn't know. 
Erroneous yes.

While $20 million more would probably have avoided park closings or 
turn-overs to other operators for this year; this would only lessen the 
problem this year, not solve it. Nor would $20million due much to pay for 
the billion plus dollars of deferred maintenace in the parks.

California has been making BIG cuts all over. Even if a billion dollars of 
unreported funds were found; it would do little to ease the cuts.

So you may be cynical. So am I at 69. But I'm more cynical of all those who 
rant and rant against government without knowledge or understanding.

Tortoise

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable
President John F Kennedy,  1962

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On 2012.07.23 12:50, Timothy Nye wrote:
> Tortoise,
>
> The funds were concealed; the director and assistant director are now gone because the funds were concealed, apparently even from the director herself, by the staff.  Their existence certainly surprised (and embarrassed) the governor. Remember, it took a freedom of information act request to uncover the money's existence.  To suggest that there may have been an adjustment in appropriations over the years by the legislature is, at best, speculative, and is incompatible with the legislative process. It would require a conspiracy between the the executive and legislative branches of government.  To note that the sequestered funds were originally ear marked for another purpose overlooks that all of the hidden funds must necessarily have been designated for other purposes at the time they were originally appropriated.  Clearly there has in fact been a conspiracy and misallocation of tax payer money  while a deceptive state wide campaign was launched by the very agency that conceal
>   ed the funds. The question is what will actually be done about it.  An independent prosecutor should be appointed.  More likely,  an investigation by the attorney general will ensue that will preclude release of any additional evidence or information to the public in order to avoid 'compromising' the investigation, at least for the next six months or so.  You're  absolutely right.  We need to avoid an implied 'rush to judgement' until California voters have the opportunity to vote on tax increases in November and throw even more  money in the public trough.  Ironically, my guess would be that the staff were aware, as would be the staff at public schools and law enforcement agencies, that they would be the highly visible politically designated targets of any budget cuts in order to promote the necessity of tax increases over actual cuts in others areas.  But then I'm a cynical 60 year old lawyer here in the capitol. One who got scammed.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jul 23, 2012, at 12:02 PM, Tortoise <Tortoise73 at charter.net> wrote:
>
>> Until we know what the full story is, it is premature to make judgements.
>> Still it is disheartening to learn of this.
>>
>> According to the Sacramento Bee report, only 22 million apparently can be
>> spent on general park operations while 34 million is in the OHV trust fund
>> available for only certain expenses. 22 million spread over 12 years is not
>> much in the overall picture and worse, likely, this extra money may have
>> been offset by decreased appropriations.
>>
>> So I am dismayed by this. But at least the money wasn't embezzled or such.
>>
>> Tortoise
>>
>> Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable
>> President John F Kennedy,  1962
>>
>> All content is copyrighted. Reproduction or use elsewhere is is expressly prohibited without the express permission of the author. Use within the PCT-list is permitted.
>>
>> On 2012.07.20 23:18, rob gratz wrote:
>>> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018733153_apuscaliforniaparksshakeup.html
>>>
>>> we just got chumped,all the hours time and money spent to keep the parks
>>> open was for nothing.they had it all the time
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