Gordo to PUSD: Audit this!
By Andre Coleman , Joe Piasecki 11/16/2006
The Pasadena Board of Education has had its share of problems when it comes to keeping track of its budget, but they may soon get some help — welcome or not — thanks to Pasadena City Council members Victor Gordo and Paul Little and the Pasadena Weekly.
During a discussion of school board election reform Monday (see “Rocking the vote,” page 11) Gordo called for city officials to hold periodic audits of the way the Pasadena Unified School District spends its money. Gordo was upset that council members continue to pour money into the district while district officials are apparently saving money that could cover some of those expenses.
Last week, council members gave the district $42,000 to fully fund the annual Turkey Tussle football game at the Rose Bowl at Gordo’s request. But as the Weekly later reported on a tip from Little, a school board agenda held from the public until less than three hours before that council meeting began detailed that $21,000 in district funds were available to help cover the expense of the game.
Soelter, who told council members the two bodies shouldn’t squabble over an initial $10,000 difference in what the event would cost and what the city was willing to provide, didn’t mention the available cash either — though he did say that, no matter what, the Turkey Tussle would go on as planned. “That was horrible communication. They said, ‘We don’t have the money,’ and the very next day they allocated $21,000,” said Gordo.
“Every time they have had a shortfall, they look to the city. So we should know what’s going on with their financial situation.”
The idea of holding regular city-run school district audits will be discussed by the City Council in January, said Mayor Bill Bogaard.
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