“Which of the 393 Middle Managers Was Responsible for Oversight of DIF Accounting?”
By Lisa Mortensen
Greetings to our elected officials at city hall:
The article below regarding the $178 million in unspent development impact fees is eye-popping on the total dysfunction and lack of accountability by our elected officials at city hall.
We have a $6.5 billion infrastructure deficit and a $300 million budget shortfall and nearly $200 million sitting around in unused DIFs? How can you even consider a salary increase in September ( totaling a salary increase of 61% since 2020) when you have failed in your job duties of protecting the health, safety and welfare of our city and its citizens?
May I ask of the 393 middle managers that you have hired at the city, Mr. Gloria, which one was responsible for oversight of this DIF accounting?
Regardless of when these fees were deposited, those of you on the council who have been in office for 5 years should have kept better oversight.
It’s inconceivable that not one of the 10 of you at city hall were aware of this nor did your staff members bring this to your attention. This is complete dereliction of duty and financial malfeasance. But I guess it’s not your money; $178 million here; or $300 million there; all we can assume is that your vision has been blurred by all the zeros?
So, I have to inquire, who is minding the store?
And you wonder why a sales tax increase was not trusted with this group? I don’t.
The response of the WORST MAYOR in SD history has slapped every citizen with parking fees and ever other pain in the ass fee he can. Just remember someday he will want a higher office then mayor. YOU CAN STOP HIS FUTURE DREAMS BY VOTING FOR AND SUPPORTING ANY OTHER DOG BUT HIM.
And reportedly Gloria has 26 staff members, the most of any SD Mayor ever. Seems there’s a shell game going on between the Planning Dept. and Mayor’s office with all the non-public exclusion on so many projects. What happened to promised transparency???? That’s another all talk and no action issue.
Also the highest paid mayor in the history of California, $798k a year in 2024. The new numbers for 2024 are up on Transparent CA. Todd Gloria tops the charts for all years, as the highest paid mayor in history. While our city council is raking in: VM $608k, JL $605k, and the rest around $600k except for HF who made $398k in 2024. What budget deficit? Who needs affordable housing?
Wow – read the Grand Jury report: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/grandjury/reports/2024-2025/d-i-f/City%20D.I.F-%20Final%20Approved%20Version.pdf
“The GJ also found a number of City employees, who are involved in direct administration of the DIF Program, possess little knowledge or awareness of MFA [Mitigation Fee Act] requirements or the severity of the consequences for non-compliance.
The Grand Jury discovered red flags signaling trouble ahead as far back as 2011, and since that time City Management has acted deliberately, with constructive and actual knowledge of the potential legal compliance deficiencies in administration of the City’s DIF Program.
Our investigation concluded that despite clear warning signs, the City has failed to take
appropriate actions to correct problems or corrective action in administering the DIF program. “
Wooooow. Thank you for sharing this!!! Horrifying, though not surprising. This reminds me of when I attended our City Budget Deficit Town Hall in Mira Mesa and our independent auditors had “NO Idea” what the $142M in “Other Pay” was. And when pressed, said it “could be fringe benefits, car allowances, maybe” but they “would be shocked if it was $140M” and I reminded them it was $142M and all right there for the whole world to see on transparent ca. I just pulled the 2024 numbers and the city employees received $151M in “Other Pay” in 2024. And they have some explaining to do…
All great and critical info. Thank you. Today I saw that we are now going to spend $5M to replace the roof of the air and space museum – maybe I missed the memo. Seems displaced
That seems high priced enough to be awarding the reroof contract to a campaign donor, or maybe it didn’t even go out to bid, but if it did… I’m guessing it was awarded to a friend/donor. Yes, who is minding the store?