Congratulations to Jerry Taylor!

In a Daily Independent recent article (Meet-new-City-Council-member-Jerry-Taylor), the new Council Member makes several positive revelatory statements regarding his objectives as a Council Member. In summary his objectives are:

• Abolition of the current Committee Structure & adding a third Council Meeting to the two scheduled monthly meetings

• Mid-Year Budget Revision (In light of the State’s Budget Crisis)

• Creating a New Openness with the Residents of Ridgecrest (this is based on a his belief that the populace does not trust City Hall)

• Make the City Budget Process “Clearer”

• Utilize Technology to allow Residents easier communication with City Staff and Officials

• · Taylor wants to use a personal Blog to communicate with the public

Let me first start by commending Jerry for his exuberance and his enthusiasm. California General Law Cities require that any action be enacted by a majority vote of the entire City Council, in other words no action by a single City Council Member is valid without the necessary votes to constitute a majority from other CC Members.

What may not be generally known is that when the City Council adopts the Budget, the resolution that adopts the Budget gives the City Manager & the Administrative Services Director the authority to amend the budget within general guidelines of purchasing guidelines. Historically, the City has also amended the budget at the mid-year point almost every year since I have been the Chief Financial Officer at Ridgecrest (8 years), with 1 or 2 exceptions. It will be critically important this year since the City adopted a budget that was out of balance (Transfers In did not equal Transfers Out by a significant amount—but that is the subject for another day).

The trust issue in my opinion is an issue that the staff cannot deal with on its own. This must be dealt with primarily by the City Council itself. The Council and the City Manager however must be informed of the facts, from the Department Heads, and not make commitments that the Department Heads cannot possibly fulfill. Open forums, blogs—which the City has had for years, but which have largely have been mostly unused (see Discussion Board).

One of the major issues I found and continue to struggle with was this issue that JT identified as “…Make the Budget Clearer…” When I first arrived in Ridgecrest, in the summer of 2000, the Budget consisted of more than 400 pages of computer generated accounting-style worksheets with an Excel Summary for all appropriated funds. The City Council’s primary question was “…we don’t know what the balances are, we don’t, understand the budget process or the budget document, and we can’t explain it to the public…”

During the next few years, with the City Council’s endorsement, the Finance Department conducted several special purpose audits while overhauling the entire budget system. The first year’s general City audit identified more than twenty (20) audit findings; we also conducted special audits over the next few years – TOT Audit (from the Motel Operators, from which we recovered approximately $100,000 net profit); Nutrition Grant Audit –which showed that the City was significantly subsidizing the County Program up to $100,000 of direct and indirect cost per year; Capital Project Grants which showed that over three (3) years the City had approximately $0.50 million of unreimbursed capital projects.

By the 2002-2003 Fiscal Year the City Finance Department began to receive a series of State and National awards for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). From the onset of the decade in which the Council provided “marching orders” on refining the financial system, we continued to make ongoing improvements to not only the financial reporting system but also to the budget preparation process.

Within two years if my arrival we resolved all twenty plus general audit items. I then heard from the Council, "...We know what the balances are, and we don't like them!..." During this same time we implemented full cost accounting for the Parks Recreation Dept, Police Dept. and had the vision for implementing overhead City wide.

One of the complicated aspects to Jerry Taylor’s question which has been echoed by many prior Council Members is that the City’s hardware and software system is so cumbersome. The other main issue revolves around budget focus. Possible focus includes:

· Department / Division / Line Item

o Salaries & Benefits

o Supplies & Materials

o Services

o Capital

• Project /Revenue/Expenditure Focus

• Program
  
• Fund Focus
• Department – Area of Responsibility
• Department – Program
• Other

Ultimately no matter how we decide to focus on the appropriations (budgeted expenditures) the budget has to be balanced by Fund.

There has been no consistent direction on the desired focus. Meanwhile we have made improvements to the budget with the focus on the Department /Division /Line Item focus also combined with a modified version of Project focus.

Many of the Technology goals Council Member Taylor has either already exist, or are relatively easy to implement. Finally, I wish Mr. Taylor the best in his pursuit of his goals.

Weaverville, California

Weaverville, California is in rural Trinity County in the north west portion of California. I was raised in Weaverville from the time I was adopted as an infant until I left for college at age 18 years old.

My parents are Joseph Caryl Winegardner and Vera Virgina Davis Winegardner. My Dad, Caryl, operated a propane gas company and my Mom, Vera, was a stay-at-home Mom. Throughout my growing-up-years in Weaverville we lived in the same home on Mulligan Street just a few blocks from the Weaverville Elementary School.

Throughout my elementary school years (which included my middle school years) my Mom often told me how she often looked down "the hill" to be sure my adopted brother, David, and I were safe. Both my parents attended all school and extra curricular functions such as band concerts, little league games, football games, track meets, and etc.

While not particularly athletic my public school experience in Weaverville was such that I was able to participate in any sport that I so desired (little league as a young child, football and track in high school). Our community was relatively close.

My favorite teachers were Tom Ludden (4th Grade); Dale Kennedy (5th Grade); and Bob Rowen (Economics H.S.). These three men profoundly molded my character more than any other adults in my growing up years with the exception of my parents. Recently, I was able to make contact with Tom Ludden.

Other friends that I remember with fondness some with a greater degree than others include, Galen Loomis, Robbie Johnson, Val , Jim Underwood, Eric Olmstead, Ken Muir, Curtis Gibbs, Marc, Jim Adams & Melanie Polka, ...

Weaverville is in the middle of the Trinity National Forest. I spent a lot of time in the forest. This where I developed a sense of my love of the environment, especially of the forest.

Jim Winegardner

Election 2008 - What are the Real Issues?

McCain. Obama. Clinton Twins. What a Choice. I am disgusted! What is worse is the media doesn't present a critical evaluation of the real issues or the real character of any of the candidates. They assume that we are morons that can be manipulated and handled. Aren't you tired of it all?

What are the issues you care about? Global Climate Change? The rising price of gas and all of the spin offs it is causing? Economic security? Global Terrorism v. loss of personal liberties? In the western States, the impact of illegal immigration?

What have the media's candidates and handlers packed for us? Thirty-to-forty-five second sound bites about personal stories that attempt to create emotional "tug". Big money backers run the campaigns and eventually they call in their favors.

What needs to be done? First, we all need to boycott the November Election. Second, we need to demand serious campaign finance reform. Third, we need to unregister from the Republicratic-Demican Party and start over. Finally, we need to read and understand the framers original intent of the foundational documents.

It starts with a few voices. The Sons of Liberty started a small flame from which a raging fire of Independence was born.

Have a Comment? Post it or Email Me - james.winegardner@gmail.com

Intellectuall Honesty - Judicial Activism - Mcain

I received this unsolicited e-mail in my Inbox yesterday:

My Friends,

We have a lot at stake in this presidential election. As a nation, we face many challenges that will require real leadership from our next president. I have said before that this election will be about the big things, not the small things, and I write to you today about one big issue in particular - the future of the U.S. Supreme Court. If one of my Democratic opponents is elected in November, you can rest assured that given the opportunity to appoint judges, they will appoint those who make law with disregard for the will of the people.

There may be at least two vacancies on the United States Supreme Court during the next presidential term. As president, I will ensure that only those judges who strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States are appointed. I will nominate judges who understand that their role is to faithfully apply the law as written, not impose their will through judicial fiat.

If you want judges who will clearly and completely adhere to the Constitution of the United States and who do not legislate from the bench to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, then I ask that you join my campaign for president today by making a financial contribution.

I am proud to have played a role in the appointment and confirmation of two great Supreme Court justices - Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito I need your support now so that as your president I can nominate judges like Justices Roberts and Alito. Judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust. Judges who take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people's elected representatives. Judges who can be relied upon to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend.

My friends, the future of our country and of the Supreme Court is at stake in this election. If either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is elected - both voted against confirming Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito - they will appoint activist judges. They will appoint judges who legislate from the bench.

I'm sure I don't have to remind you how important even one vote on the Supreme Court can be. Issues concerning states' rights, abortion, affirmative action, the Second Amendment and religious freedom have all been decided by a very slim 5-4 margin.

America needs a leader who recognizes that the people and the states should decide what's best, not the courts. In order to be that leader, I need your financial support immediately.

Please follow this link to make an immediate donation of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 - any amount up to the legal limit of $4,600.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

John McCain

P.S. To date, my Democrat opponents have raised almost $450 million in their efforts to win the White House. Both Senators Clinton and Obama voted against confirming John Roberts and Samuel Alito. Both Senators Clinton and Obama will nominate liberal, activist judges. As your president, I will ensure that the Supreme Court protects our values. Please follow this link right away to make your donation of any amount, up to the legal limit of $4,600. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, is crucial to our efforts. Thank you.

I am not posting this as a "Pro-Mcain"Piece. I am writing about Freedom and Judicial Activism. I want to make it clear that I am antiHilary and anti-Obama. Which defacto places me in the "vote for MCain Camp". I am not voting for Mcain as much as I am voting against a force that I percieve threatens liberty and our republic to a greater degree.

Mcain is arguing that we shoul support his campaign financially because he will be able to nominate more conservative strict constructionist judges to the Supreme Court. Is the very premise a Matrix-type fallacy?

We know the Federal and State Judiciary through it s evolution has taken on a life of its own, ignoring the principles of the founders. What of the executive branch and the legislative branches of Federal and State Government? If Senator Mcain wants to be intellectually honest he should turn the microscope on all the branches of government and examine how far they have veered from the original intent. This is to say nothing of the micro management that corporate America exercises every day on our daily lives.

Has anyone wondered why the price of gas is so high? Why the technology for alternative fuel sources has been supressed so long? The technology existed more than fifty years ago to provide vehicles than ran 100 miles per gallon and at nearly zero emmissions. Corporate America quashed the development of the technology.

Mr. Mccain Judicial Activism is just the tip of a very large iceberg. Let's be intellectually and morally honest here.