As Bond Trustee: Union Bank is an Agency of the People and All Tax Payer Monies is Accountable and there is no expectation of privacy.
Union Bank will not fulfill a Public Records Request,but they will fulfill a Judge's Court Order. 
Read More on Union Bank Page - http://www.libionline.net/union-bank.html
Read The Bond Fund Audits on City of Beaumont Page - http://www.libionline.net/city-of-beaumont-audit.html

 For six years the Taxpayers of Beaumont has been pleading with the Riverside District Attorney's Office to investigate the corruption in their local government and for six years the Riverside District Attorney's Office has been throwing the complaints and evidence in the trash.  Read More Here: http://www.libionline.net/city-of-beaumont-audit.html

The Council Meeting was reminiscent of a B movie scene of the Post-WWII Eastern Block. The Citizens spoke to Council from a podium with a 3:00 timer and green, yellow, & red lights to indicate when the citizen is allowed to talk. There is also a buzzer that is used to drown out the speaker.

  At the beginning of the council meeting the buzzer started to sound when the speaker had 5 seconds left of their speech. Then the buzzer started cutting people off with 10 seconds left on their speaking time. One man had 25 seconds left to speak when the buzzer started sounding and the Mayor started yelling at him that his time was up.
Read More Here: http://www.libionline.net/city-of-beaumont-audit.html

The first thing a Californian notices when they travel out of state is that the fuel prices drop as soon as they cross the border. Currently fuel prices run $3.50- $3.60/gal in California, $3.27 in Nevada, and $3.00 in Arizona. Why is fuel higher in Cali? Because we have additional state taxes attached to the price of our fuel.

The 1st fuel tax in California was established in 1923 at $.02/gal to fund the state highway system. In 1963 fuel tax increased to $.07/gal with $.05 going to counties. In 1983 state gas tax was raised to $.09/gal

In 1990 the state raised gas tax to $.14/gal to 'reduce traffic congestion & expand public transportation' (sin tax) and by 1994 gas tax was $.18/gal with the excuse of rebuilding after the Northridge earthquake.

 State Gas Tax is only to be used for 'transportation-related needs'. In 2004 voters realized the gas tax money was not being used for the attended purposes and enacted Prop 42 to limit use of funds for 'nontransportation-related needs'.

Part of the State requirements for gas tax revenue is that the cities must have separate funds established to track the money. Beaumont uses 'Fund 3', but the account is in such disarray it is of little value use as a reference. From July, 2010 to January, 2013 the Bank Statements show that the City of Beaumont has received $2,912,551.98 in gas tax funds, but the City only lists receiving $1,492,964.02 on the General Ledger.

In the last three years there is not one entry for any road-related work in Fund 3. The only expenses the City of Beaumont shows in Fund 3 is $86,333.00 for 'Administrative Overhead' and $363,018.56 paid to 'Urban Logic Consultants'.

Page 8 of the State Controller's 'Guidelines to Gas Tax Expenditures' states: “Overhead will only be allowed via an approved cost allocation plan or an equitable and auditable distribution of overhead to all departments.” The City can not claim overhead and consulting fees when there was no work performed.

Unfortunately the City of Beaumont is no different than ever other California city. Every City seems to be wasting the Gas Tax Funds instead of using the money for its intended purposes.

The City of Imperial Beach receives $2 Million/year from Gas Tax, but only $300,000 can be traced to items such as 'street signs' and 'asphalt patch'. The other $1.7 Million disappears. Although Citizens have made repeated requests, the City of Imperial Beach refuses to do any road repairs. Last year an alley was so deteriorated that the neighbors took it upon themselves to pay for gravel. The City's response was to fine the neighbors $1,000.00.

The City of La Habra Heights receives $200,000/yr from State Gas Tax, but the General Ledger shows only a few thousand can be traced back to road maintenance. $37,000/yr goes to wages & health care for unknown employees, Maricela Medina, and A.Q. Engineering Consultants who is listed under City Engineer'. There is no justification for any wages to be funneled through the La Habra Heights Gas Tax Fund.

General Ledger for the Fiscal Year 2011 shows La Habra Heights spent only $34,727.42 in additional expenses: $9,190.61 for 'Street Lights', and $8,800.00 to 'California Arborists', $1,157.64 to 'Zumar, Inc', $10,100.53 to the City of Santa Fe Springs, and $2,098.00 to a grant assistance company called 'Bucknam & Associates'.

Fiscal Year 2012 shows La Habra Heights spent $116,189.80 through the Gas Tax Fund, but $50,626.16 was paid the following Consultants: $27,083.66 to NBS, $18,980.00 to Winzler & Kelley, $1,650.00 to GHD Inc, and $1,300.00 to Harrell & Company.

The City of La Habra Heights also receives an additional $80,000/yr for transportation funding through Prop A & C, but the only expenses listed in this Fund are $8,66.63 for wages, $5,737.50 to Maricela Medina. The 'Dial A Ride' program is also operated through this Fund Account.

The current fuel tax rate is $.36/gal. In 2010 the decision to raise fuel taxes were taken from the Taxpayer and given to the California Board of Equalization. The Board has voted to raise gas taxes to $.395/gal on July 1, 2013. The excuse for the increase is “..a $157 Million shortfall in gas-tax revenue in fiscal 2012 and a 'projection' that California drivers will consume less.”

The Board of Equalization did not look to see if the current tax revenue money was spent wisely nor consider how the additional increase would impact the citizenry. Their only focus was want of money.

Taxes are collected for specific purposes, but when those purposes are not addressed by the tax increase the correct action would be to stop the taxes, not increase them.

Please contact your State Representatives to stop the additional Gas Tax taking effect on July 1, 2013 and the elimination of additional taxes given to local governments. If local funding is needed it can be voted on by the local voter.

The citizens of Beaumont are petitioning Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach to investigate the corruption of elected and appointed officials.   Read and sign Petition here:  http://cleanupbeaumont.org/

City of Beaumont Internal Audit: Hidden Check Book, Padded Employee Benefit Expenses, & Million Dollar Money Shifts:  http://libionline.net/city-of-beaumont-audit.html

The Citizens of Beaumont have been fighting their city corruption for years.  Read about Beaumont: http://beaumontgate.org

Throughout California there are local initiatives on the ballots to ease restrictions on the sale & use of marijuana. The State has already established states' rights for California Farmers, Retailers, and Consumers. Now is it time for local governments to allow the free market to prosper. Passing these initiatives is a giant step toward economic recovery, states' rights, and the rights of small businesses & individuals. Laws or restrictions on the individual & business should only be imposed if the costs to self or society outweigh any benefits.

Like wine; marijuana can be grown all over the world, but California is blessed with an ecosystem that produces the finest and most expensive weed on the market. This is a multimillion dollar industry that contributes 5% to state tax and any local taxes imposed.

There are no 'weed wal-marts' selling merchandise from china and taking profits out of our state. Marijuana producers are our neighbors, they take care of their families, and they deserve the same rights and dignity as any other farmer in our state. They work hard and invest their money. They have the right to grow and sell their produce and to live without fear of governmental or personal persecution.

The customers that shop in stores are tax paying citizens and members of our community. Yes, there is a growing demographic of people that are using marijuana instead of pills or chemicals for their illnesses. Good for them. The immediate & long term side effects of marijuana use are minimal. Man-made products can be deadly and often produce physical & emotional side effects that are worse than the original illness.

 But the rest of the customers that purchase marijuana are simply adults of legal age.

In this Country we are Free Men. We do not need a reason or 'doctors excuse' to live our lives as we choose. We want the same safety & convenience to purchase marijuana that we have with any other product we choose to consume. The short & long term effects of marijuana to self & society are far less than that of booze or tobacco. Congress has never had the right or power to create restrictions that infringe on the individual rights of man.

Retail stores pay rent, insurance, utilities, taxes, and hire employees. The profit is generated in our state and stays in our state. Marijuana is far less harmful to self & society than booze. A weed store should have no more restrictions than a liquor store.

Government officials suggest that crime will go up if there are marijuana stores, but removing marijuana from the streets will have the opposite effect. Weed stores separate the legitimate producer, retailer, & consumer from the criminals. This will allow law enforcement to better utilize their resources and focus on hard core crime.

Opposition to marijuana initiatives are primarily from individuals and agencies that are funded with tax payer dollars. Government agencies and employees are hired to serve and protect the citizenry, not to sell out the citizenry to the highest bidder.

City Councilmen are elected to represent the best interests of the community, but they are being trained by lobbyists to undermine small business growth & the individual rights of the citizens. Law Enforcement officials are also attempting to block marijuana initiatives for fear of losing their power and control. Law Enforcement's job is to serve and protect the community, not to protect the drug cartels' turf.

The Federal Attorney General's Office threatens California marijuana growers, producers, and retailers with prosecution while supplying drug cartels with weapons and protection from competition. It's time for the selling out of our State and Country to come to an end.

The State of California is criticized for restrictions on the individual and business, but it is not the State that is restricting the free market – it is the local municipalities. It is time for We the People to stand up against government oppression and for the individual rights of man.