One likely cause for such turnover is that the city has not consistently used an open and competitive hiring process when selecting individuals to serve in important roles. “In the past six fiscal years, Compton has had six city managers-a position that is critical to a city’s effective operation. The audit cites the City’s challenges lies squarely with the inability to hire qualified leaders and staff. The City also faced legal action for the Los Angeles Water Quality Control Board for “numerous sewage overflows” that pose environmental and public health risks. The fire department is currently in contract negotiations with the City that have dragged on for months. The Compton Fire Department also continues to speak out against infrastructure issues within the fire stations and the lack of equipment and certifications as the City continues to approve new housing development which will yield more residents. The City has not responded to public records requests asking for the annual inspection reports for the city’s fire hydrants. Water issues arose when the City’s fire department was called out to a fire and when they hooked up fire hoses to the fire hydrant nothing came out. Other infrastructure issues include decaying water well sites to ensure quality water supply to the City’s nearly 100,000 residents. “Compton has received hundreds of legal claims related to its streets and the condition of these streets can cause pedestrian injuries and vehicle damage,” wrote Tilden.Ĭlaims for damage are consistently denied related to damage potholes have caused for citizens vehicles. To date, Measure P has brought in over $19 million according to Treasurer Brandon Mims who stopped short of detailing how the funds were spent. The audit found the Compton’s “deteriorating infrastructure presents significant health and safety risks for its residents”. In the midst of the fiscal uncertainty, voters passed a controversial sales tax increase under Measure P, which was to generate funds to address the city’s crumbling infrastructure. In 2016, former City Manager Roger Healey revealed the mayor and council passed an overstated budget and the following year the deputy city treasurer was convicted for embezzling nearly $4 million over the last two decades.Ĭompton is one of the only city’s that doesn’t produce a warrant register for approval on the city council agenda’s detailing where the money is being spent. The City hadn’t had an accounting firm sign off on an audit since 2011 which consistently lack an independent opinion on how the City is performing. 2018 when the City awarded a $850,000 contract to Eadie + Payne to produce audits for fiscal years 2013-2017. “For more than a decade, Compton has faced a persistent deficit in its general fund and has failed to produce timely, complete audited financial statements,” wrote Tilden.Ĭompton didn’t address their lack of audits until Jan. The state auditor’s report details the think tank’s assertion was accurate. Then City Manager Harold Duffey said the report was nothing more than outdated information which used secondhand sources to “grab headlines” by using a city with a recognizable name. In 2011, Compton’s general fund had a $40-million deficit because for years officials used the city’s water, sewer and retirement funds when the general fund ran short on cash, the report said. The City first gained the designation as the states “most financially distressed City” when a think tank compiled their list in 2014 after Compton was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2011. “While we are disappointed that Compton has again been named the city with the highest risk, I have seen the strides that our City Controller has made in taking the necessary steps to improving our systems” said Compton City Manager Thomas Thomas, “I am confident that we are on track to achieving financially stability in the upcoming years.”
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