Mendocino supervisors approve temporary-fund transfers to cover transportation cash shortfalls

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on a 5-0 vote approved a resolution authorizing the auditor-controller-treasurer-tax-collector to make temporary transfers between county funds and continue paying warrants when short-term cash shortfalls arise, to avoid stopping work on ongoing projects.

County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector Shamise Gevison told the board that the authorization is needed this fiscal year because timing differences in state reimbursements and departmental spending have created the potential for negative cash balances in the Department of Transportation’s road fund. “So it's anticipated that the road fund cash negative balance may fluctuate between 3 and $6,000,000,” Gevison said, noting her office was already withholding almost $2,500,000 in payments pending resolution.

The resolution permits the auditor to temporarily transfer funds in the county treasury for short-duration cash-flow needs and to continue paying vendors in situations that appear likely to be resolved quickly. Gevison said the department’s…