San Mateo Courts - Civil Grand Jury
2001
Final Report:
Visibility of the San Mateo
County Transportation Authority
Summary
| Background |
Findings | Recommendations
| Responses
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The
2001-2002 Grand Jury reviewed aspects of Transportation Authority (TA)
activities related to its administration of Measure A funds-$75,926,134
in FY 1999-2000, the most recent figure available when this report was
prepared. TA disburses money for county projects related to transportation.
The Grand Jury's review revealed that the powers, activities and responsibilities
of the TA have a low level of recognition and understanding by the general
public. The Grand Jury believes that the TA must make a greater effort
to keep the public consistently informed of its activities and expenditures
by using media releases, a comprehensive website, and newsletters.
Issue: Does
the San Mateo County Transportation Authority keep the public sufficiently
informed of its duties, responsibilities and activities? |
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In
1988 the voters enacted Measure A, which created a sales tax increment
of one-half cent to be administered by San Mateo County through an agency
to be called the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA). (Measure
A expires in 2008 unless extended by the voters.) The Grand Jury reviewed
TA's operations. In the course of that review, the Grand Jury found that
the TA does not keep the public well informed about its activities and
expenditures. |
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The
TA is charged with administering the use and distribution of the Measure
A sales tax for transportation-related projects, such as freeway on-ramps,
street widening, and railroad improvements. The Grand Jury recognizes
the extent and complexity of the TA's duties and responsibilities. While
the handling of Measure A funds may be routine to the TA board and staff,
the Grand Jury found the TA's operations difficult to follow and descriptions
of how the agency is run confusing and incomplete. The TA also has a low
level of public recognition. The public needs to know how this agency
works if it is to have confidence in the TA's ability to effectively carry
out its mandate, including the spending of approximately $76 million per
year.
The Grand Jury found that TA has no on-going public relations plan, issues
press releases only sporadically, and fails to issue an "annual report"
every year. Such inadequate efforts leave the public in the dark about
the Authority's actions and use of public funds. |
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The Board of Directors
of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority should keep the public
better informed through such means as:
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More
frequent media releases
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A
website that is informative and easy to navigate
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Newsletters
that are widely distributed throughout the county.
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Response
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