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The City of Beaumont is Financially Sound

We live in a great city

I wasn’t going to write a blog about our city finances since it is well know about how we came from a deficit of some $2, 000,000.00 back in 1993 to financial solvent city since the year 2000 with funds being place in reserve each year for the rainy day. However since we have an individual who doesn’t even live in our city questioning every financial transaction, making some far fetch claims about our financial well being ,I felt I needed to respond with the truth. We have had a balanced budget each year since the 2000 Fiscal Year thanks to the hard work by our city staff in being good stewards of the public’s money while finding new sources of revenue without raising taxes.  The city of Beaumont has no debt on its public facilities.  When we needed improvements we paid CASH.  We bought the old school site instead of building new buildings. We build a 23 acre Sports Park with volunteer help and some work contracted out over a span of 10 years. I and Council Fox planned out the fields on the back of a Pizza Box after a Little League game. This facility is one of the nicest in the county and is in constant use. We have one of the best Police Departments in the County. We have Paramedics on all our Fire Engines. We provide a low cost after school program for our children. We have provided funds to rehabilitate our library. Most of the improvements at the Noble Creek Park are a result of a unique agreement with that agency to pass through our redevelop funds to fund much needed improvements to this facility. The concerts in the Park are a Class Act with Top Name Performers. Anyone who has lived in Beaumont for over 20 years has seen the well managed growth and the changes made to accommodate it.

No we are not perfect and we do sometimes make mistakes as anyone does. Show me a person who never made a mistake and I will show you an individual who not achieve goals in their life. That being said our city staff has opened up their records for anyone to review as required by law. We actually go above and beyond and put our Budget, Our Employee MOU’s, Ordinances etc, on our website. We cannot put everything as it would be cost prohibitive.   An audit is done each year by a Certified Public Accountant Firm.

 If a member of the public or a citizen of Beaumont has a question about our city finances, I would suggest that they contact the city manger first for an explanation.  If they don’t like the answer they are welcomed to come to the city council meeting and ask a question. We will do our best to answer the question right then or refer it to staff for an appropriate answer. 

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Libi Uremovic January 9, 2013 at 01:40 am
'...I would sure hate to have most of the posters on this subject sitting on a jury...'
that's right - the people have been lied to and deceived for so long they've turned into an angry mob and and they've got no chance in front of a jury trial so the state should be able to get some long prison sentences.... jeremiah ..this is not an 'investigation'...this is an audit .. i'm plowing through the books so that the prosecution knows exactly where to go.. you spent 25 years 'fighting corruption' ...where ..in this town? i'm not fighting corruption...i'm eliminating the problem.. i couldn't tell you how many dozens of people the kingfish sent to prison in a span of 10 years...but i do remember two men that dropped dead before they stood trial... one of them was like the 2nd in line at the state dept....only 38 years old...dropped dead of a heart attack while golfing one sunday......it made the kingfish smile for a month... good times..... is that the kind of things your family laughed about as they sat around the kitchen table jeremiah...? there's not going to be any secrets...we're going to show the world how our elected and appointed officials conspired against our line workers and against our state and nation .... they were proud of themselves when they did it...now they get to read about it in the papers....
Libi Uremovic January 9, 2013 at 01:45 am
i'm only auditing the books...it is up to the citizenry to take action and give instruction to council...
but there's no reason to wait until the 'end of the audit' because you've already got enough data to realize your books are cooked... if i told you that your spouse had another checkbook pulling money out of your bank account.....would you keep it quiet and wait for the rest of the audit....???
Jeremiah Price January 9, 2013 at 02:40 am
I agree! You're doing a great job of spotting things. And they're not doing a great job of answering specifics.
Jeremiah
Ken January 9, 2013 at 02:48 am
Washy..Its ok...I was being sarcastic
Gary January 9, 2013 at 03:19 am
How is he not qualified? Wasn't he maintenance director for Hemet school district? Then got a nicer little number with Bogh closer to home, now jump into our school system? Or working for both? So many conflicts of interests, so little time.
beaumontdave January 9, 2013 at 03:44 am
She lost me at the part where as a seven year old she put fear in grown men's eyes.
beaumontdave January 9, 2013 at 03:48 am
You're suggesting we have in excess of 3,600 people working for BPD?
Gary January 9, 2013 at 03:53 am
So Roger, you are stating here that Kapanikis does not get one red cent over his city manager salary no matter how many hats he wears, or how many CDF's he handles? Or does he just have his management company do it, and the city then pays them? Is that what all those checks are for?
Washy January 9, 2013 at 10:22 am
Actually it wasn't sarcasm it was mean.....You tried to make me look stupid.
Washy January 9, 2013 at 10:24 am
It is different if it was his spouse it is her right to spend their money.......Whoever is writing checks off the second city check book doesn't have the right to do that....
Washy January 9, 2013 at 10:31 am
Seems like a great deal to me...One man his hands in many pots, asking for duties from the county. FOR EXAMPLE three years ago he insisted that the city get the funds from the state to do Mobile Home Park Inspections.....OK we wait.....we wait and we wait. Our MHP has some serious sewer and electrical problems....BUT we get to call Mr Hightower and Code Enforcement in Beaumont who has a general response of "we know there are issues up there but the MHP in on sixth street are much worse" SOOOOO it should be OK with me that the MHP sewer leaks onto my lot DAILY because someone downtown has a worse problem?!?!?!?!?!
Libi Uremovic January 9, 2013 at 11:32 am
'...She lost me at the part where as a seven year old she put fear in grown men's eyes....'
i was a weird kid... until i was about 9 i used to play poker and blackjack with my parents' friends...i guess it's a little scary to some to see a little girl win 50 hands of poker in a row...to have 19 - hit and get a 2.... one old man used to beg my mom to let him dress me up as an old woman and take me to the casinos...
Libi Uremovic January 9, 2013 at 11:46 am
or maybe it was because i was the offspring of the kingfish...
the kingfish had a 'total annihilation' mindset embedded in him.... if someone crossed him he'd give them a 'little smack' to put them back in line.... i remember a couple time kids coming up to me in high school saying: 'your dad blew up our barn'... but if someone really pissed him off he'd not only ruin their lives but everyone around them ... when i was 4 years old two men crossed the kingfish ....both were prominent, but one was a political family in the north - the cozzi family... the kingfish put both men in their graves and took everyone related or associated with then out of office... when i was about 14 the kingfish and i were down by the corrals and a man drove up...he was the nephew of cozzi ...he wanted to run for county supervisor, but no one would support him because of his last name.... he plead his case....he didn't know his uncle, the man had been dead since he was a teenager... he was going to be an honest politician ... and the kingfish said; 'sure kid, go ahead and run, i'm not going to stop you.'.... and true to his word the kingfish did not stop the kid from running.... ...the kingfish just waited until 2 weeks before the election to take him out.... and everyone that supported him...
Libi Uremovic January 9, 2013 at 12:23 pm
the kingfish had posters on both sides of the driveway and on the doors:
right to bear arms....right to shoot anyone that trespasses on private property....right to shoot cops even if they have a warrant ... there was about a dozen listings and every forth one said: 'right to shoot to kill' ... i used to watch people pull over to read the signs....usually their eyes would fix on the sign for a minute or two ...then their heads would starts shifting back and forth from the sign to the house as it occurred to them that to read the sign they had to get close enough....they had to step foot on the property... ... and they would run back to their cars and take off as fast as they could...
Charles Ferrell January 9, 2013 at 12:42 pm
And all of this has what do to with the City of Beaumont's handling of its financial records? I'm sure we all appreciate Libi's ability to overcome her apparently abusive childhood. Her dad really seems like a character out of Deep South Party Politics. I am sure if he is still with us, he is proud of his daughter's success. I'd like to hear something about your mom, Libi. How is she doing these days? I am sure she is also proud of her daughter. OK, now that we are done with As the Libi Turns, let's get back to the San Gorgonio Pass Area city finances, focusing first on the City of Beaumont, then later on the City of Banning. Then, I hope Libi can turn her "audit" focus on the special districts. Then, I hope she can attain her ultimate goal of helping our local cities and special districts get their financial reporting acts together. Who knows, if we in the Pass Area can demonstrate that a little clarity in financial reporting on the part of our governmental entities and agencies can go a long way, what we accomplish can reach higher to make a difference on our county, state and even federal governmental agencies. Today, Beaumont... tomorrow, the U.S. Federal Government. But let's keep personalties and childhood memories on the back burner as we take a businesslike look at what is going on with the City of Beaumont. I'm all for that. Let's get back to those Diners Club purchases, taxpayer-paid city employee luncheons, etc.
margaret bragg January 9, 2013 at 03:27 pm
Uh Charles, I don't think you can blame only the democrats anymore for wasteful spending, that boat just won't float. Getting back to the local issue, might I remind you these guys are all, each and every one, Republicans. They may not be guilty of creating dozens of government departments, no, they keep it themselves instead. Which is really worse?
Charles Ferrell January 9, 2013 at 05:32 pm
I agree Democrats are not the only ones to blame for the unhealthy growth of government, government waste and out-of-control spending and waste. There are plenty of non-conservative Republicans to blame for that, too. George W. Bush was a big time spender and a government growth guy, and the nation was not served well. However, rather than make it a Democrat vs. Republican matter (both parties have big spenders, big government, big debt, big waste) folks in their ranks, I look it as more of a liberal/progressive vs. conservative. The liberals/progressives support a bigger government, more government control on our lives and thus more government wasteful spending, while conservatives support smaller, more efficient government, more personal responsibility, controlled and reduced government control of our lives and our nation's pocketbook. I saw a comment on Facebook this morning that explains what I am trying to say: If a liberal/progressive (leaning towards socialist) person sees a big house, they say "nobody ought to live in a house like that." If a conservative (leaning towards capitalist) person sees that same big house, they say "everybody ought to be able to live in a house like that." I fear our nation is becoming divided between those who look at successful people and want to bring them down to a lower economic level and those who look at successful people and aspire to reach up to their higher economic successful level. I say shoot for stars, not shoot down stars.
janet January 9, 2013 at 05:38 pm
And all of this has what to do with the City of Beaumont's handling of its financial records? Lets stay on topic, shall we? Have any questions of your own to ask?
Charles Ferrell January 9, 2013 at 05:53 pm
Janet, you are right, I was writing off-topic, but I was responding to a question/comment someone raised about another comment I posted on this particular blog. I agree some of the comments here have gone far afield of the real topic of how Beaumont keeps and records its financial documents and we need to keep on the subject. I can't wait for Libi to start looking into the City of Banning and other Pass Area special districts the same way she is tackling Beaumont. It will be interesting to compare how the two cities, in particular, differ in the way they publish their financial statements. I look forward to her reports on comparisons, for example, of their police department budgeting (both cities have their own police departments, so this will be an apples vs. apples comparison) and fire departments (both cities contract for fire protection service so this will be an oranges vs. oranges comparison). Other apple vs. apple comparisons could be the city manager's departments, and city attorney's offices (I would like to compare each city's legal expenses), and street and road maintenance departments. Comparisons that won't apply include water and electricity (Banning has its own water and electricity departments while Beaumont has neither as that city's electric needs are served by Southern California Edison and its water needs by the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District). I would like to see a comparison of how the city council members are compensated, benefits, perks, etc.
LetsBfair January 11, 2013 at 03:46 pm
It appears Beaumont is deep in United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainability. This is the reason you are paying fees to Non-Governmental Agencies (NOG's). Also Libi, you are doing a great job. Can you find the Beaumont Successor agency EOPS? This will tell you where that $1/4 billion debt is hiding. They would have used Bonds but you can still trace the money. Your Successor Agency information should be on the City website but I can't find it. Here is your latest ROPS letter from California State Finance to the city. Redevelopment was a scam for developers to make easy no bid and no voter input money. Do a Freedom of Information request on all redevelopment activitiy including Successor agency activity and you will have your answers. http://www.dof.ca.gov/redevelopment/review_letters/documents/Beaumont_ROPS_III.pdf (Excuse any typos)
Ben January 11, 2013 at 04:21 pm
I just notice that little stuff gets answered, but the big stuff doesn't. What are the payments to what looks like housing tracts? payments for something or buying tracts? and that comment by berg that kapanikis is only getting one salary? now thats a politician answer, for sure he's collecting his salary, but all the stuff he does under those other titles he holds are things he has his business company do, and the city pays him that way. Technically, berg can get off saying he only gets paid one salary, while then leaving out the entire truth that he gets paid mega bucks on the side. saying half truths and half answers makes you half honest. Libi, add all the checks you find to Kapanikis's business, GGMS, and checks written to all the people who get paid through it, like the Gregg guy and others, and see the actual amount the city is paying Kapanikis, on top of his "one" salary. for berg here thinks he is telling the truth when he says he just bought four tires, and leave out the part they came attached to a car.
Adam W January 11, 2013 at 11:57 pm
Roger- you didn't answer any original questions...here they are again....Roger- two specific questions- Is the city the agent (on CFD's), or is Kapanicas (GGMS) the agent? Does Kapanicas/GGMS profit from managing and writting the CFD's? If so, how much in 2011? And let's get a figure Roger- ask the city Monday.... or maybe Libi can decifer a dollar amount....
Adam W January 12, 2013 at 12:09 am
Roger Berg...once again.....- you didn't answer original questions dated Jan 5th......here they are once again....Roger- Is the city the agent (on CFD's), or is Kapanicas (GGMS) the agent? Does Kapanicas/GGMS profit from managing and writting the CFD's? If so, how much in 2011? And let's get a figure Roger- ask the city.... or maybe Libi can decifer a dollar amount.... Roger- I want to know what Kapanicas & Urban Logic profited from the CFD's in our great city in 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2011? I bet thousands if not millions... I await your response Roger Berg.
a litttle justice January 12, 2013 at 01:19 am
CLEVER VICTOR.
Charles Ferrell January 12, 2013 at 02:52 pm
Note to Adam: Yes, we agree that elections have consequences. Just a reminder that here in the Pass Area, the majority of our voters did not support Gov. Brown's election or Barack Obama's election in 2008 and re-election in 2012. Our local voters in Beaumont made a couple of excellent decisions in the 2012 election in re-electing Jeff Fox and electing Brenda Knight to the city council and Banning voters also seem to have made excellent choices in their city council election. The Banning City Council took that one step further when they named Debbie Franklyn as the city's new mayor. We seem to have a lot of our act together here in the Pass Area. Sadly, the same can't be said for the big cities that run California and continue to send liberal/progressive representatives to dominate our state politics in Sacramento. The same can't also be said for the big states like California, New York and Illinois, as prime examples, who are showing the rest of this nation how states run by liberal/progressive politicians are being run. I am glad the elected repersentatives in Beaumont are being made a little uncomfortable with the selected complaints levied by the San Diego area woman who has been posting on this site, I think on behalf or perhaps even in the employee of some disgruntled local residents, one in particular who still hasn't gotten over the Wal-Mart Super Center and its quality garden department coming to Beaumont. It will be interesting to see how the pieces fall in this.
Adam W January 13, 2013 at 02:48 pm
Charles- what the heck was all the gibberish about? You’re out in left field on this one. My questions from the beginning of this blog were "Is the city the agent on the CFD's or Kapanicas? Does Kapanicas/GGMS profit from managing the CFD's and if so how much in calendar years?" What the heck is all you’re rambling about? Elections always have consequences. I agree with you on that. If you eat at Burger King every day and get a double whopper with cheese that will have consequences on your waistline and heart I assume. Anyone who gets a payroll check and works in the state of CA knows consequences are here! Their take home pay in 2013 is down from 2012. Excellent decisions local voters made...haha... I have to disagree, but that’s just my opinion. The people spoke and I will not issue any PR on it. Not to Charles: You’re an idiot.
Adam W January 13, 2013 at 02:49 pm
Roger- wake up wake up wherever you are....
Adam W January 17, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Roger no response still....... I have given you days if not weeks to come up with the answer.....once again.....- you didn't answer original questions dated Jan 5th......here they are once again....Roger- Is the city the agent (on CFD's), or is Kapanicas (GGMS) the agent? Does Kapanicas/GGMS profit from managing and writting the CFD's? If so, how much in 2011? And let's get a figure Roger- ask the city.... or maybe Libi can decifer a dollar amount.... Roger- I want to know what Kapanicas & Urban Logic profited from the CFD's in our great city in 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2011?
Katherine January 18, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Don't mind Charles, whenever he has nothing of real value to add to a topic that he doesn't have clue about, he will cut and paste this one comment containing all his particular opinions on politics into every conversation, just to claim he participated. I have come to appreciate it, for whenever I see it, I know I can skip all his comments and just focus on those who post something of substance. But even I am losing patience with his pompous assumption that he has pin-pointed someone's complete motivations for what they do because of one comment he heard. The idiotic phrase, "its because they hate Walmart", just shows how completely ignorant of the entire situation he is. I think it makes him feel better about himself, for if he demeans someone actually doing something to keep our politicians honest, it serves to disguise the fact that he does nothing but complain.
Angelwings March 20, 2013 at 03:50 pm
TRUTH HURTS comes to mind. but then most people have lived with the "IGNORANCE IS BLISS" mentality for way too long.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Jeremiah Price June 19, 2013 at 04:06 pm
Wow, I feel sorry for the guy. I have been a pro audio engineer for 30 years and that lounge is byRead More far the single worst venue for audio that I have ever experienced. Maybe they will let him set up outdoors so he can sound as good as he is. Jeremiah (Oz the Audioman to those who know me)
Ken June 17, 2013 at 11:47 am
Great idea Lloyd..They dont deliver to the old neighborhoods I guess. I generally pay the 50 centsRead More to see what they DIDNT print.
Washy June 18, 2013 at 04:37 am
Have you tried calling them and asking them to not throw trash in your driveway each Friday.
Two4ac June 19, 2013 at 07:21 am
I've called them multiple times and asked them to stop littering my property. After the 4th time andRead More talking to the person in charge of distribution, they seem to have stopped.
Tracy Salinas June 18, 2013 at 11:25 am
UPDATE on CV (nickname)...a tumor protruding from his right eye was removed yesterday - he now canRead More close the eye completely which, coupled with a fly mask, will keep the flies from laying eggs in his eye (a very nasty thing indeed). He has settled in with a gentle geriatric horse for a companion and is eating well (his weight was not an issue before - he obviously was fed decently). His club hoof causes him quite a lot of discomfort, but he manages to hobble around. A visit from the farrier is nextin line, to see if his discomfort can be aleviated. I don't believe he will ever be a riding horse, but he casts a nice shadow and is gentle and kind to be around. There is a peacefulness that eminates from his very being...
Ellen Carr June 18, 2013 at 11:45 am
Okay, this isn't funny. I just posted a comment and it's gone. My first post was edited now myRead More second post disappears. What's going on?????
Ellen Carr June 18, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Good news. My post from 6/17 has reappeared but my post from this morning (6/18) hasn't surfacedRead More yet. I don't have a clue as to what is going on!
Aubreey we Love You!!!
Gina Tenorio (Editor) June 13, 2013 at 02:55 pm
Beautiful! Now this is great news! Thank you both so much for sharing the news of your blessing withRead More the rest of us.
Renee Schiavone (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 02:41 pm
Congrats!
Kathleen Mccrary June 10, 2013 at 03:50 pm
THIS ADD WAS WRITTEN WRONG SORRY.LOL THE ONE ABOVE IT IS THE CORRECT ADD.
Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
Renee Schiavone (Editor) June 10, 2013 at 10:59 am
Great photo, Julie... thanks for sharing!
Ben June 11, 2013 at 02:04 pm
Niki- yes the plans have been updated to allow Banning and Yucaipa to share in the use of the newRead More ponds. It is an inter-agency plan that is beneficial to everyone. Why you consider having other entities share this project, which bonds us all together: they are paying to help build the new area so we, as ratepayers aren't hit with the whole bill, and we are going to finally get some recycled water into use from Yucaipa, Banning gets new wells, and no matter what- we have ultimate control over the use at all times- how that is a horror story I can't figure out. These plans were in the works for years, it was no secret. Its now being finalized by the board- as the details are now ironed out. The only horror story I see happening is how Beaumont refuses to make an agreement with the district to utilize their recycled water- and its not all the water district's fault like you think. Beaumont can't build unless they find some new sources of water. One of the reasons they pulled out is once they update their wastewater facility- they don't plan on wasting that recycled water just on landscaping . They are going to dump it into the basin itself for the water credit. Beaumont residents have no clue that their drinking water will eventually be more wastewater than water coming down the mountain. Sorry- but I think Fraser is doing a great job. If he hadn't got in there, the district would belong to Beaumont, who would take all the water they want regardless of impact studies, and siphon off all the money for their own uses. Guess you missed their lawsuit in the courts- the courts laughed them out. Beaumont is broke. The water district is financially sound.
Niki Magee June 13, 2013 at 01:54 pm
Ben, it is unfortunate you are the victim of such serious misinformation. I thought I knew everyoneRead More at last night's BCVWD meeting. Who were you?
Claire Frémont June 15, 2013 at 09:59 am
I'm curious, Niki, what misinformation are you speaking of concerning Ben's comment? He appears toRead More be stating information that I've read about also. Beaumont did sue to try and take over the water district, they did get a cease and desist order to stop dumping their wastewater into the aquifer, and have pulled out of all negotiations with the district to supply them with recycled water. The district has made the arrangements instead with Yucaipa to take their water, with the hopes that someday Beaumont will come around. All these things are in agendas and downloads available to the public, which part are you disputing?