Center for Public Accountability

Taxpayers on the Hook for Sexual Abuse Committed by Government Employees

Taxpayers on the Hook for Sexual Abuse Committed by Government Employees

The taxpayers are always the ‘deep pockets’ that public leaders depend on. There is nothing more infuriating to me than adult predators who exploit and sexually abuse children. As a former president of the board of a summer camp, I know that it had to pay high premiums for liability insurance. Not for the mud...

By John Moorlach

Urbanists and unions can slow but not stop California’s transportation progress

Urbanists and unions can slow but not stop California’s transportation progress

California is the prime battleground between transportation innovation and legacy mass transit. While Silicon Valley is rolling out driverless taxis and testing flying cars, urbanists and transit unions are seeking more taxpayer funding to buttress money-losing train and bus systems around the state. If history is any guide, the new transportation technologies will ultimately replace...

By Marc Joffe

Los Angeles City Controller Warns of Dire Budget Concerns

Los Angeles City Controller Warns of Dire Budget Concerns

Elected Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia has issued a dire warning about the city’s finances. It’s not the first time he’s been direct in the two years since he has assumed the office. He is no stranger to addressing transparency concerns, especially on the hot topic of auditing homelessness expenditures. And he’s unafraid to...

By John Moorlach

California Mayors Need to Take Strong Fiscal Action Quickly

California Mayors Need to Take Strong Fiscal Action Quickly

California’s major cities, especially the seat of its major counties, are falling apart at the seams. The city and county of San Francisco announced that its newly elected mayor is facing an $840 million budget deficit over the next two years. San Diego’s Mayor is stressing over a $250 million budget deficit. And the controller...

By John Moorlach

Wildfires and the Efficient Government Trap

Wildfires and the Efficient Government Trap

The misguided quest for efficient government As the wildfires raged in southern California last month, we witnessed bipartisan support for the reintroduction of The Fix our Forests Act, ostensibly designed to reform forest management. At the same time, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced that it will submit to outside investigations to...

By Mark Moses

California Government Breaks its Social Contract with Rich Liberals

California Government Breaks its Social Contract with Rich Liberals

Conservatives often wonder why California’s 13.3 percent top marginal income tax rate has not driven out more of its affluent residents. Indeed, a family earning $10 million annually stands to save over $1 million each year by moving to Texas, Florida, or another state that does not levy an income tax. But many high earners...

By Marc Joffe

Newsom Doubles Down on Hopeless High-Speed Rail Project

Newsom Doubles Down on Hopeless High-Speed Rail Project

Pushing back against the winds of change in Washington, DC, California Governor Newsom reiterated his commitment to the state’s high-speed rail (HSR) boondoggle while tacitly lending support to a new effort to incinerate taxpayer funds: a 54-mile high-speed connector line that would join HSR with Brightline West service planned for the I-15 corridor.   Newsom participated...

By Marc Joffe

Modernizing Municipal Reporting Conference

Modernizing Municipal Reporting Conference

After a period of municipal financial stability, California local governments are once again facing fiscal distress. A robust system of municipal financial reporting and monitoring can provide early warnings of fiscal trouble and allow policymakers at the state and local level to proactively address them. Join California Policy Center and XBRL US for a half-day conference, Modernizing Municipal Reporting, featuring keynote speaker California...

By California Policy Center

Should voters approve new taxes without seeing the books?

Should voters approve new taxes without seeing the books?

As Californians head to the polls, voters statewide will be deciding on whether to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in local tax hikes and new government bonds. The problem? Over two dozen cities, counties and school districts are asking for more money, but elected officials in those jurisdictions don’t even know what their financial...

By Andrew Davenport

Should California Take On More Debt for Schools?

Should California Take On More Debt for Schools?

Californians tend to be credit card debt-laden and don’t seem to mind adding more debt to their monthly financial commitments. That may be why they, as voters, do not flinch when Sacramento legislators put bond measures on the ballot. These propositions usually receive enough votes to succeed and permit the state to borrow more money....

By John Moorlach

It’s Always Budget Season in Local Government

It’s Always Budget Season in Local Government

The many California agencies that have placed new taxes on the November ballot owe it to their residents and businesses to wean their organizations from reliance on serial tax increases to remain afloat. It’s disconcerting that such a clearly unsustainable strategy has become the go-to solution for so many municipal leaders. The problem is that...

By Mark Moses

A Checklist for Cities Dealing With Tight Budgets

A Checklist for Cities Dealing With Tight Budgets

There are several reasons for someone to run for public office. My journey set its own course, thanks to the nature of my previous occupation. As a certified public accountant, I would be asked to serve on nonprofit boards and invariably become the organization’s treasurer. So when I was asked to run for county treasurer,...

By John Moorlach