COUNTY TO TAXPAYERS: PAY UP FOR OUR 'WHOOPSIE'!

Santa Barbara County’s financial wizards, better known as the Board of Supervisors, recently graced us with another masterclass in fiscal responsibility. We’ve all seen the agenda item from the erstwhile County Board of Supervisors, buried deep enough to avoid scrutiny, regarding a 'minor' authorization to retroactively pay Wittman Enterprises LLC over $36,000 for invoices 'not covered by contract.' Yes, you read that right. In a move that would get any private business owner laughed out of town, our esteemed county government is simply shrugging its shoulders and sending your tax dollars to cover their own administrative oversight.

Apparently, in the hallowed halls of county government, contracts are more like suggestions than binding agreements. One wonders if this is standard operating procedure, or if Wittman Enterprises just has a really good lawyer – or perhaps, a well-placed campaign donor. The average Joe has to jump through hoops for every dime, but our public servants can just decide to pay bills for work done 'between contracts.' It makes a thoughtful citizen ponder how many other 'between contract' payments are silently slipped under the rug of retroactivity.

And, predictably, they've stamped this little fiscal oopsie with a CEQA exemption, because what could possibly have an environmental impact about unilaterally deciding to pay a contractor for work performed without a valid agreement? This isn't about a new pipeline or a housing development; it's just plain old governmental fiscal activity, which, as we know, never, ever has any tangible impact on anything aside from your wallet. It's a miracle they didn't declare it an act of God.

So, while regular folks are tightening their belts, the County is loosening theirs, not for the people, but for their own procedural sloppiness. Maybe next time, they could just, you know, have a contract *before* the work is done. Just a thought from the peanut gallery that actually pays the bills.