New policy limits supervisors' use of discretionary funds

SAN BERNARDINO • Under new policy touted as reform, San Bernardino County supervisors can no longer use their discretionary money to pay for personal staffing or fund a major project before the work is complete.

The discretionary funds historically allocated to each supervisor came under fire in 2010, when the grand jury raised concerns that too much of the money was going toward staffing and benefits rather than projects to benefit the community.

In May, Board Chair Josie Gonzales called for doing away with discretionary spending by supervisors and instead putting the money back into the general fund, arguing it should go toward the county’s overall greatest needs and not a supervisor’s pet projects.

The board agreed with her proposal on a split vote, with 1st District Supervisor Mitzelfelt protesting the move. He said he hadn’t been spending the funds on his staffing and that discretionary funds have been vital for underserved unincorporated areas, with the 1st District having the largest amount of unincorporated land.

Amended policy approved by the board Tuesday serves to guide supervisors as they spend down what’s left of their discretionary funds. In 2015-16, any remaining funds must to be returned to the county’s general fund, according to a provision in the policy.

In the meantime, supervisors must submit quarterly reports on discretionary expenditures and tack on a 5 percent administrative fee to allocations for management of the contracts. When a project exceeds $5,000, the discretionary funds can no longer be paid up front. Instead, the contractor will be reimbursed upon the project’s completion.

The proposed changes passed on a 3-0 vote, with Mitzelfelt and 2nd District Supervisor Janice Rutherford absent. Mitzelfelt was in Washington, D.C. discussing transportation projects as a representative of San Bernardino Associated Governments.

“We continue to change the way the county does business,” Gonzales, who represents the 5th District, said in a statement. “We must wisely invest the taxpayers’ money and deliver long-term community based benefits. In doing so, we can support improved services and amenities that enrich our communities — particularly our unincorporated areas — and spark revenue generating opportunities.”

The 1st District, which includes the bulk of the Victor Valley, has about $1.7 million in unspent discretionary funds, according to the most recent data available, county spokesman David Wert said.

Local projects that have benefited from discretionary funds include: the Phelan library, the Victor Valley Museum, the planned Spring Valley Lake fire station and endowments to support the School of Aviation at Southern California Logistics Airport.

Mitzelfelt’s staff plans to meet Friday to discuss spending the 1st District’s remaining discretionary funds, spokesman Andy Silva said.

Natasha Lindstrom may be reached at (760) 951-6232 or at NLindstrom@VVDailyPress.com.

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