Residents call for independent performance audits and greater transparency over county grants
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Summary
Speakers at Lake County public comment urged independent performance audits after multiple alleged budget shortfalls and asked the board for clearer oversight of a $4.5 million grant, warning against shifting authority to unelected departments without transparency.
Residents used the Board of Supervisors’ public comment period to press for independent performance audits and tighter oversight of grant-funded programs.
An in-person commenter recounted a string of fiscal surprises across county departments and said existing internal audits and controls failed to detect long-standing problems. The speaker said building and safety, planning, and code enforcement had faced undisclosed deficits for months or years and recommended the board commission performance audits that “look at best management practices, identify deficiencies, and recommend corrective actions.”
Skye Leawam, of Pillsbury Family Farms, criticized what she called a diminishing tolerance for public scrutiny and urged supervisors to demand details before approving large grants. “There is nothing excessive about asking how our $4,500,000 grant is going to be used,” Leawam said. She described the board’s recent discussions of cuts and deficits and asked whether grants were being used to backfill fiscally reduced departments, calling for clear program definitions and transparent structures before approval.
The speakers did not present a formal motion; no vote or official audit directive was made during the public comment period. Commenters asked the board to add items to a future agenda so the county can consider independent audits and specify oversight mechanisms.
The board did not respond with a commitment on the record during the comment period. The public requested precise follow-up, including timelines and whether audits would be internal reviews or third‑party engagements.
