California Finds Pot of Gold Hidden in State Accounts

Facing crippling deficits that have threatened California's vaunted quality of life, the discovery of more than $286 million in state accounts will come as a welcome relief. A sweeping state audit, however, raises more questions than it answers.

1 minute read

August 6, 2012, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


It turns out the shocking discovery of $54 million hidden untapped in two of the California Department of Parks and Recreation's funds, as mass park closures loomed, was just the tip of the iceberg. more than $286.5 million that "lawmakers were unaware of as they repeatedly cut government services."

"The new discovery includes about $30 million for healthcare programs,
almost $29 million for reimbursing crime victims and $12.5 million for
cleaning up underground petroleum tanks. It follows revelations that
nearly $113 million was languishing in a recycling program funded with
consumers' bottle deposits and $54 million had gone unreported by state
parks officials.

The irregularities are a particular distraction for [Gov.] Brown as he pushes
voters to pass billions of dollars in tax increases on the November
ballot. Recent opinion polls have suggested many voters want some sign
that California's fiscal house is being put in order before they will
give more money to Sacramento."

Saturday, August 4, 2012 in Los Angeles Times

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