Editorial

Bored to Broke
The Continued Saga of Lost Money

We’ve just looked at the headlines from last year. (See article posted below)
   
Boring, we must admit, when the same old bell is rung nearly off its vertex time and again, but that’s what the culprits wish for.
   
Who? The culprits, the wrongdoers in taking millions from the pockets of the unsuspecting taxpayers and using the money to patch holes wherever they appeared in the county budget -- with disregard for the laws of this state.
   
The culprits wish for the story to go away, and to their thinking if it gets boring enough maybe the story will go away. In fact, in some quarters that’s exactly what has happened.
   
Not on this blog, however. Nor on the pages of the Modoc Independent News.
   
We have vowed in the past (could it be an annual vow) not to abandon our readers and their devotion to seeing justice done.
   
Just what kind of justice is acceptable?
   
We think there has to be a declaration by the county grand jury as to who is to blame for putting this county on the edge of bankruptcy if not insolvency. It’s time to move away from the dime, so to speak.
   
Call in a criminal grand jury. Put the arm on our district attorney and twist.
   
There has to be a payoff, call it a settlement, with the insurance companies over the $10 million performance bond claim that outright names the culprits. Money from that would be a minor atonement, but could keep the county ship afloat for awhile.
   
The Board of Supervisors should unite behind this, but don’t put any spare money you may have it.
   
There has to be at some point an effort by the county to start a treasury repayment plan -- as ordered by the state (but the state may have forgotten all this by now).
   
Make the drastic cuts that are necessary, even if it means laying off your cousin.
   
In the end there has to be something that signals or signifies an official acknowledgement of who the culprits are, so we can learn from their unconscionable errors and unforgiving arrogance and hire or elect no one in their image again. Ever.
   
   
   

Looking Back at 2011 

Modoc County’s Twisting Financial Saga

Editor’s Note: We think the headlines we ran during the last year in the Modoc Independent News speak clearly to the one major issue facing Modoc County -- and as yet resolved -- and that is the misappropriation of millions of dollars from the treasury.

January 2011
“I’d Rather Go Back to Vietnam”
In an anti-climatic but no less dramatic last fling at the public former Marine Dan Macsay and out-going supervisor steps down as chair of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors.

February 2011
“Auditors Make Their Report”
A state-order audit gives a guarded diagnosis of county’s fiscal health. Speaking in couched language auditors detour issue of misappropriation.

March 2011
“BOS Votes to Pursue Claim”
After months of hedging and haggling the Modoc County Board of Supervisors backed into voting unanimously to file a performance bond claim that names among others Cheryl Knoch, treasurer; Judi Stevens, auditor; and Mike Maxwell, chief administrative officer as responsible parties in misappropriation.

April 2011
“Not What Went Wrong, But Why?”
An analysis reveals that trusted leaders led the people astray in misusing treasury funds and than failed to stand accountable for their misdeed.

May 2011
“Power Plays, Theatrics Detour BOSA from Taking Right Path”
Game players on Board of Supervisors jockey for position as they drift toward naming a new chief administrative officer and send the old one back to his road job.

June 2011
“Alturas Supportive of Joint-Job Sharing”
A relative calm prevails for the moment as Alturas and the county momentarily enter the 21st century and try to mutually work out what’s financially best for them both.

July 2011
“Modoc County Ranks No. 1 in Federal Dollars Received”
Surprise, surprise. But Board of Supervisors, especially Patricia “This e is the Alamo” Cantrall, continues to bash both federal and state aid, saying who needs them?

August 2011
“Overdue Grand Jury Report May Surface Next Week”
Problems with formatting and editing blamed by court for grand jury report not being released on time.

September 2011
“Modoc County Grand Jury Report, An analysis”
Grand Jury says it has the goods on those culpable in misappropriating an estimated $20 million from the treasury the last decade, but is stopped short by the court and a reluctant DA.

October 2011
“Supes (Finally) Adopt Budget, Now What?”
Three months late in accepting a new budget for 2011-12, Modoc County Supervisors continues in its perilous skirting of insolvency.


November 2011
“If There is Light at the End of the Tunnel Someone is Going to Have to Turn it On.”   
After more than a year and not much accomplished with its old fiscal plan, Modoc County works towards a new, revised fiscal restoration plan.