Citizens Bond Oversight Committee hears clean Measure W audit, members seek named auditor contact and more line-item detail

The Citizens Bond Oversight Committee reviewed the independent audit of Measure W for fiscal year 2023–24 and was told auditors found minimal expenditures and no reportable findings.

Committee members pressed staff for greater transparency in the published audit package, asking that future reports include either the name and contact information of the auditor “in responsible charge” or a representative of the audit team attend the committee presentation so the public can ask follow-up questions. Staff said it would refer the request to district staff and the board and discuss feasible next steps.

The presentation summarized expenditures for 2023–24, identifying bond issuance costs shown as $325,000 and program-management expenses totaling roughly $23,658. Those program-management costs were described in the materials as legal fees ($2,400), architect fees ($18,000) and auditor fees; the transcript contains two different auditor-fee figures (one line cites $24,000 and another cites $3,250), and committee members requested staff reconcile and publish the correct amount.

Members also asked for more granular line-item breakdowns of program-management and project expenditures so the committee and public can more easily confirm funds are being spent as intended. Staff said audits are performed by a contracted firm and that historically the board’s annual audit presentation was made by the audit team; staff offered to explore whether the person responsible for the audit can be named on the report or asked to present to the committee without additional cost to the bond program.

The committee took no formal action on the audit—this was an information item—and directed staff to return with clarifications and any revised documentation at a future meeting.