It’s All Our Money, Ask for it Back!
by Bonnie Donovan
Where oh where have the billions disappeared to?
Meanwhile in the State of California and the missing 24 Billion dollars regarding Homeless.
(The Center Square) — California’s new U.S. attorney announced Tuesday he is investigating billions of dollars of homeless spending for fraud and corruption, and promised to arrest individuals found to have violated federal law.
U.S. attorney forms homelessness fraud task force focusing on these California counties, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
"If state and local officials cannot provide proper oversight and accountability, we will do it for them," said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. "If we discover any federal laws were violated, we will make arrests.
“California has spent more than $24 billion over the past five years to address homelessness,” he added. “But officials have been unable to account for all the expenditures and outcomes, and the homeless crisis has only gotten worse.
“Taxpayers deserve answers for where and how their hard-earned money has been spent,” continued Essayli. “If state and local officials cannot provide proper oversight and accountability, we will do it for them. If we discover any federal laws were violated, we will make arrests.”
Essayli’s task force will include federal assistance from the FBI, the IRS, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Essayli’s announcement cited a court-ordered audit of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Agency that found the agency systematically paid out funds without verifying services had been provided, and that “insufficient financial accountability led to an inability to trace substantial funds.” Essayli was pictured with the judge who ordered the audit — U.S. District Judge David Carter — touring LA’s infamous Skid Row before the announcement.
Yep, Santa Barbara is on the List
Los Angeles County contains more than 75,000 homeless individuals, including more than 45,000 in the city of Los Angeles. The other six counties have over 20,000 homeless individuals, meaning the investigation covers roughly half of the homeless individuals in California, or about one in eight of the nation’s homeless.
Back to Missing Joe Holland
I received the following after last week’s column
“As a long-time employee of the Assessor’s office, I’d like to share some thoughts with you, acknowledging the challenges that many in the office, including those in the Elections office, have faced under the current leadership. While I respect Joe [Holland] for starting as an elected official with good intentions and for his deep understanding of the work, the past several years have been particularly difficult for those in roles that are often thankless and demanding. In response to the point raised in the article, it's possible that the newer appraisers in the office may not recognize him if they saw him in the hall.
“As you consider future elections, I encourage you to vote for a candidate who has demonstrated proven leadership and strong business acumen—qualities essential for effectively guiding such a crucial office. While current leadership may assert their effectiveness, the challenges within the office suggest that a new approach may be needed. It may be tempting to vote for a career bureaucrat with experience in navigating the system, but I urge you to look beyond that and consider the broader needs of the office and the county.
“What this office needs now is fresh leadership—someone from outside the organization who values people and integrity in service. I hope a candidate with the right vision, experience, and character will step forward next year to take on this challenging yet honorable responsibility.”
[Name Withheld]
Friends with Benefits
This term – “friends with benefits – seems to have taken on a new interpretation, particularly here in Santa Barbara County and the City of Santa Barbara.
Are we uncovering the reasons behind the deficits, or potential deficits, faced not only by California, but by our county, our city?
Returning to the case of missing Joe Holland, it raises the question of why Joseph Holland is categorized as “retired” on Transparent California for the year 2022 while still receiving his full salary, along with other pay and benefits.
Specifically, does "Other Pay" refer to a pension? In 2023, this "Other Pay" amounted to $55,173.82, in addition to regular pay.
The following are several years of Joe Holland's compensation as reported by Transparent California.
Joseph Holland
2023
Regular pay$235,515.52
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$55,173.95
Benefits$16,747.82
Total$307,437.29
2022
Regular pay$228,679.36
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$6,084.00
Benefits$95,373.28
Total$330,136.64
2021
Regular pay$221,806.48
Overtime pay$0
Benefits$120,362.92
Other pay$5,824.00
Total$347,993.40
2020
Regular pay$221,806.48
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$5,824.00
Benefits$120,362.92
Total$347,993.40
2019
Regular pay$212,329.44
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$6,032.00
Benefits$97,237.71
Total$315,599.15
2018
Regular pay$204,111.52
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$8,172.16
Benefits$104,523.85
Total$316,807.53
Totals for Joe Holland’s entire pay package from2011 to 2023 are:
Regular pay$2,610,693.00
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$205,708.35
Benefits$1,107,179.97
Total$3,923,581.32
I began to consider who would be next in command, and it could be Michael Daly. He transferred from another County job in 2022 to this one…
The following details pertain to Michael Daly's profile on Transparent California.
2023
Regular pay$179,305.38
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$2,713.60
Benefits$61,419.45
Total$243,438.43
2022
Regular pay$78,451.09
Previous job, Enterprise Ldc-gen
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$0
Benefits$32,120.37
Sub-Total$101,571.46
Same year 2022 Starts at County Clerk
Regular pay$68,102.29
Overtime pay$0
Other pay$1,029.60
Benefits$22,448.85
Sub-Total$91.580.74
Total both jobs$202,152.20
Has Anyone Reported This?
While contemplating how much money taxpayers have to shell out to the various “public servants” it hires, the above figures also have me wondering:
Has someone known all about this and hasn’t reported it?
Should their jobs be in jeopardy? Should they be let go? Who is in charge of the HR Department?
Has any staff within this department been threatened if they speak up?
If someone said something, would their job be eliminated? Would their job title be changed and rewritten to the point that they would no longer be “qualified” for their position?
Could Joe Holland be double dipping?
What is with the “other pay” on Transparent California? Wouldn’t “regular pay” decrees if it is for “sick pay”?
Is it a mistake? But why twelve years of “other pay” (that we know of)?
Is there a HR employee knowing this is going on and not reporting this? Or are the ones involved not talking because they have been told, you’re next in line for his job? Or, of course, everyone at the higher levels countywide is in on the game, so no one speaks up.
Is there an investigation underway?
Are We a Functioning Government?
No response from the county yet to my Public Records Act Request (PRAR).
Should be real simple, since everything is on acomputer, just copy and paste, or simply forward it.
My request was for Joe Holland’s appointment calendar.
Now I have more questions and will ask for another PRAR.
What could “Other Pay” be:
I have been asking questions to understand.
“Other Pay” on Transparent California refers to compensation received by public employees that is not part of their base salary or regular pay. It includes additional forms of pay such as:
• Bonuses
• Overtime
• Stipends
• Cash-outs (unused vacation or sick time paid in cash)
• Incentive pay
• Hazard pay
• Special assignment pay
• Uniform or equipment allowances
I also understand it could be car allowance, yet not at $55,000.00 plus a year. And not if you’re not at work.
I sent this pay information to someone I know and that person told me that “It looks as Mr. Holland is currently collecting retirement while also receiving his full annual salary as the Clerk-Recorder/Assessor. In fact, it looks as if he is drawing equivalent to two salaries, despite not actively performing the duties associated with the role.”
Could this be why the County Board of Supervisors voted to increase their pay? What’s good for one is good for all?
Could this kind of payroll padding, if it is what it seems to be, the reason why taxes and fees are raised year after year?
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Shifting to the City of Santa Barbara
I appreciate the prompt responses I received regarding my PRAR from the City of Santa Barbara.
A big thank you to the staff for providing the information I request.
My questions to the city of Santa Barbara were:
1. Who pays for the electricity to the docking stations for BCyle all over town.
2. How much money has been collected for the parklets in 2022 and 2023
Here are the responses I received:
“Hello Ms. Donovan,
“First Off, BCycle docks and bicycles are battery powered, and do not have electrical conduit running to the docks. BCycle pays for their own electricity consumption as a Santa Barbara Clean Energy customer, and they purchase 100% renewable electricity.
“Next, I’ll break your Parklets question into two parts and answer the first. Parklets in the State Street Corridor are called Outdoor Business Facilities and managed through Downtown Parking. Calendar year income for Outdoor Business Facilities is as follows:
• 2023: $152,414.84
• 2024: $187,621.64
“Lastly, I’ll share a status update on Parklets that our outside of State Street that all are currently applying for permits through the Community Development Department. ComDev has shared that they are still working through the licensing for the remaining Parklets in the Public Right of Way. Because rent cannot be charged until parklets have fully approved permits, none have paid monthly license agreements, or “rent”, as of yet.
“I hope this answers your questions. Please feel free to reach out directly with anything further.
Ed”
•••
Get ready for the Neal Taylor Annual Fishing Derby!
Bonnie, I've said this privately, but our readers should know that your columns – particularly this one – are consistently and deliciously subversive. We need more of you. Got a clone?
Bonnie, I’d like to see an article on Salud Carbajal. Note his voting record against women such as voting against the Laken Riley bill, supporting men participating in women’s sports, his lack of recognition (sitting) for those who have lost one’s at Trumps last congressional speech. The man only follows in lockstep and not man enough to stand up for moral and ethical values. He is a disgrace to his district. We need a free thinker, not a token voter who votes as he is told how to vote. Love your articles and the Current.