Audette’s critical report on city finances leads to adjustments in Redding Council policies
An Oct. 22 meeting called in response to Councilmember Tenessa Audette’s claims of financial mismanagement by the city resulted in a series of adjustments to how Redding’s council will manage financial processes moving forward.
Financial findings critical of the city that were independently published by Redding Councilmember Tenessa Audette a few months ago led to a special meeting of the Redding council on Wednesday, Oct. 22. City Finance Director Greg Robinett used the meeting to present a rebuttal to Audette’s findings before both the council and the public.
Councilmember Erin Resner spoke out strongly after the presentation saying she had found no corruption in the city’s financial management despite a deep review of Audette’s findings. “What actually happened here is that there were multiple councils that made decisions over several years” with the “best possible information” at that time, Resner said.
All four of Audette’s fellow council members disagreed with the substance of her findings during the meeting with some, including Resner and Councilmember Dr. Paul Dhanuka, using phrases like fraud and corruption to allude to Audette’s critiques of the city’s communication and transparency in regards to financial management.
Audette responded by emphasizing that she’s never used those specific words but her 158-page report alludes to as much, including claims in the executive summary that the city “made up” revenues and “quietly altered” cash balances. During yesterday’s meeting, Audette doubled down on similar sentiments saying that Finance Director Robinett being the one to present the city’s rebuttal to her claims was like asking him to “grade his own test” and saying that it was unsurprising that having been asked to do so he “passed with flying colors.”
She requested to show a 48-slide presentation countering the city’s rebuttal, but Mayor Jack Munns nixed that idea due to time constraints. That decision drew cries from some in the audience, who were later admonished by Munns that they would be removed if needed.
“Remove us,” responded Jeff Audette, the councilmember’s husband, from his seat in one of the front rows; while another member called out in Audette’s support, “she’s doing what DOGE is doing!” Less than a dozen community members spoke during the meeting, but more than half of them supported Audette’s concerns.
Resner’s suggestions for next steps managed to bring together the council, including Audette, for a unanimous vote on adjustments to council policy. Those changes include bringing the city’s finance director into future closed session negotiations on issues such as salary raises, receiving an annual report on grant funding from each department, and requiring training for all new council members on financial policies and government accounting.
The council will also consider forming a financial oversight committee — but that issue will return to the council for further discussion in the coming weeks. Audette supported all of Resner’s ideas but emphasized her belief that Robinett should not be allowed to sit on a financial oversight committee, a matter that will be decided at a future date.
Councilmember Mike Littau focused his remarks on “getting along with those we disagree with” mentioning only briefly that he disagreed with Audette’s findings on city finances and felt there “could have been a healthier way to share them.” Audette responded by saying that she had felt “shut down” in council meetings and needed to find another way to get the word out to the public on her concerns.
Dhanuka, who also emphasized he had found no fraud or corruption in his review of the dual reports from Audette and the city, said that he appreciated the opportunity Audette had created to make city finances more transparent in any way possible. He added that he was open to an additional audit of city financial processes but the city already conducts an annual independent audit and council members other than Audette did not express resonance with the suggestion.
Mayor Munns spoke last, showing his frustration with those who have questioned the financial cost of staff raises and benefits given out to top officials over recent years, something brought up in Audette’s report. The former law enforcement officer said those who question the need to compensate staff well should “go put on a bullet proof vest,” noting that “every door you go to, every stop you make, could be your last.”
In response a community member called out from the floor returning to the central topic of the meeting by asking when the public would be able to see Audette’s rebuttal presentation on finances. “Whenever she puts it online,” Munns said. “She’s spent eight months talking about this stuff. We don’t need to hear it again.”
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Mayor Munns support for unsustainable compensation for City of Redding police officers is a worn-out and never-was-valid foundation for the you-have-to-be-kidding-me compensation that the citizens of Redding–and anyone else who who shops in Redding–have to pay the City of Redding policer officers. I am somewhat surprised that Mayor Munns did not also add the equally worn-out and never-was valid support for that compensation that is, “If you want the best, you have to pay the best.”
As for Councilor Dr. Paul Dhanuka remarks, he needs to understand that a man of grand intellectual ability with grand erudition is not necessarily one whose knowledge encompasses politics: In California alone, several universities give PhD’s in political science. Councilor Dr. Paul Dhanuka needs to understand also that his high standard of ethics is not necessarily found in all politicians–both elected and appointed. Finally, Councilor Dr. Paul Dhanuka needs to understand that like medicine, politics is both an art and a science, and the art can be presented by a con artist; because that con art has not happened in Redding for many decades does not mean that each City of Redding, City Councilor should not always keep an “eye open” for that con art.
As for Councilor Tenessa Audette, her motive for crying foul should be of no interest. That fact that she cried foul because she believed–correctly or incorrectly–that a foul had occurred should earn her the gratitude of the citizens of Redding.
“As for Councilor Tenessa Audette, her motive for crying foul should be of no interest.”
A politician’s motives should be of no interest? That’s a laugh riot. What color is the sky in your world?
The comment, “she”s doing what DOGE is doing”, tells me this report is large on rhetoric and short on empirical evidence.
It was a quote of Councilperson Audette’s husband that he blurted out in response to a comment by Mayor Munns regarding decorum. If you think that’s slanted reporting, you have a weird standard