Los Angeles County prosecutors are investigating whether it is legal for county
supervisors to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on pet projects without a
public vote or discussion. A complaint was filed after the Los Angeles
Times exposed an unmonitored supply of cash that is being spent by
county supervisors. Each of the five county supervisors receives $3.4 million
per year in a discretionary spending account. Documents obtained by the Times
under the California Public Records Act show supervisors using their
discretionary spending accounts to pay for chauffeurs, parties, pet projects and
charitable donations. Supervisor Don Knabe employs an armed driver for $90,000 a
year; Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas purchased a place in Who’s Who in Black Los
Angeles for $25,000; and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky paid over $200,000 to
improve his online presence.
Documents show that most of the money is used to
cover staff salaries and to help finance special programs and outside groups.
Molina contributed $7 million to build a culture Arts Center and Yaroslavsky
donated $12 million for a library. In total, Los Angeles County leaders
contributed $4.8 million in the last 28 months to outside groups without any
public oversight.
Surrounding counties require public discussion of
discretionary spending, a detailed accounting and a vote. “Otherwise, the belief
is that it would be an illegal gift of public money,” said Orange County
spokesman David Wert.
According to Head Deputy District Attorney David
Demerjian, prosecutors are focusing the inquiry on whether the supervisors
violated the Brown Act by spending funds without a public vote.
In May, a
Long Beach resident with similar concerns filed a lawsuit that alleges that the
money spent by the supervisors violates California law as well as the Brown Act.
The lawsuit does not seek damages, but only asks that the practice stop.
Los Angeles Times,
3/11/10
Press-Telegram, Long Beach, 3/20/10
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