The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted during a workshop to make government operations, fiscal strength and transparency the county’s top priority, directing the executive office to return Feb. 3 with an action plan responding to the December state auditor report.

The board’s decision follows a detailed presentation by Chief Executive Officer Darcy Antle and Assistant CEO Sarah Pierce summarizing the state auditor’s findings, including stagnant tax revenue, rising expenditures, deficiencies in procurement documentation, and gaps in oversight of asset‑forfeiture spending. Antle said the executive office is preparing a road map with suggested milestones and dates tied to the audit’s recommendations.

Why it matters: Supervisors said improving financial reporting and internal controls is essential to stabilizing the county’s budget and restoring public trust. “We need to make modernizing the county a number‑one priority,” Supervisor Williams told colleagues, urging clearer, real‑time financial information so the board can make informed decisions.

What the audit found and what the board asked for: The state audit highlighted a range of problems — incomplete property tax assessments, inconsistent procurement records and election‑related voter‑assignment errors — and recommended specific fixes and a schedule. The board asked staff to produce a detailed action plan that includes department‑level responsibilities, timelines for policy and procedure updates, and an approach for regular progress reports to the board. Assistant CEO Pierce said some corrective work is already underway, including procurement‑policy updates and a Munis improvement tracker to identify efficiency gains.

Next steps: Staff will return Feb. 3 with a draft action plan and proposed reporting cadence; the executive office suggested monthly status updates afterward. Auditor‑Controller Shamise Kubison and other elected department heads have been asked to participate in the follow‑up; Antle said the county will also meet the state auditor’s statutory follow‑up deadlines.

The board did not vote to adopt specific new policies during the workshop; supervisors said they want a clear workplan and visible milestones before any final approvals. The board plans additional workshops and midyear budget reviews to reconcile one‑time funds and recurring obligations.