Varpness.com

// July 15th, 2009 // Uncategorized

Last week State Senator Majority Leader Dean Florez convinced the Board of Central Valley Regional Center to take back $500,000 in one-time salary adjustments given to employees and instead turn the money over to Senator Florez and the State general fund. While it has only been a week since these events first transpired, Senator Florez has not yet made any statements about his progress in actually getting the money back, nor on his promise to try and get the secured funds earmarked for services to the disabled community. Meanwhile, a more concerning issue has surfaced regarding four millions dollars that was given to employees of Clovis Unified School District for the same reason CVRC employees were given their salary adjustments.

On May 25, Marc Benjamin of the Fresno Bee reported that nearly $4,000,000 was given to employees of Clovis Unified School District, almost 8 times as much money as CVRC’s $500,000. The reason for the bonuses, according to the Fresno Bee, was “frugality.” CUSD was able to cut their self-funded insurance costs and therefore issued a one-time, 2% reward. Essentially, CUSD was able to use their money responsibly, had money left over, and decided to give the extra money to employees rather than return the funds to the State, just like Central Valley Regional Center did.

Strangely, two months later, Senator Florez has yet to make any public statement regarding this discrepancy, but he needs to decide soon. Either all leftover money originating from tax paid services should be sent back to the general fund, and Senator Florez needs to demand four million dollars from Clovis Unified, or private organizations and school districts that are responsible with their money should be allowed to use the excess funds the way they see fit, and Senator Florez owes the Board of CVRC and director Robert Riddick an apology. If Senator Florez hopes to win the Lieutenant Governor position next year, he will need to be consistent in his positions, and now is a good time to straighten out his views on excess funds in private and State organizations.

As a thank you for interviewing me the other day, I offered this information to Barbara Anderson of the Fresno Bee on July 11th, but I have yet to receive a response from her or find any follow up stories in the Bee.

(Matthew Varpness is a local educator and committed volunteer in this community.)