With only a few days left before a crucial deadline, San Benito County Auditor Joe Paul Gonzalez warned the board of supervisors Tuesday that the county’s audited “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report” might not meet the state and federal due date because of severe staffing shortages.
Gonzalez informed the board that a late report beyond the March 31 deadline would disqualify the county from access to many federally funded grant programs, including the Community Development Block Grant program.
The discussion took place during the special board of supervisors meeting Tuesday. Gonzalez said that the one staff accountant and the outside auditor were doing their best to meet the deadline, but the long-term accounting staff shortages in the auditor’s office have made it extremely difficult to put together the supporting documentation and evidence required by the outside auditor.
The issue of staffing the at the auditor’s office has been a topic of repeated discussions with the board, but this was the first time supervisors received a specific warning concerning the deadline for the financial report.
