State’s Special Funds Review Completed

Sacramento, CA – The Associated Press reports California’s finance director says an exhaustive review of more than 500 state special funds found no more instances of government officials purposely underreporting the amount of money in those funds. That review came after the park’s department scandal where a nearly $54 million surplus was not reported to the state finance department for years.  This came amid the potential for nearly 70 state parks begin closed down due to lack of money.

That surplus money came from two operating budgets; $20.3million is part of the Parks and Recreation Fund and $33.5 million is part of the Off Highway Vehicle fund. State officials say that money should have been reported to the Finance Department.

Both the states Attorney General’s office and the Department of Finance are still investigating the parks scandal.

Parks Director Ruth Coleman resigned as director in June amid the scandal.

Finance Director Ana Matosantos says other discrepancies found in the review are from differences in accounting and human error.