ACTIVITIES FROM THE PAST

Yolo County Contingency Plan Breaks Promise to Taxpayers

Local Schools and Public Safety Funds to pay for Conaway Ranch Woodland – County documents not previously disclosed to

the public from the Auditor-Controller to the Conaway Finance Team reinforces the Yolo County Taxpayer Association’s

longstanding concern that if Proposition 50 funds do not materialize, the county will be faced with draconian

cuts to public services and tax increases. The documents acquired through a public records request illustrates which

county services are at risk and which supervisorial districts and communities will bear the greatest cost for the county’s

purchase of a 17,000 acre ranch.

Moreover, should the county divert tribal funds from the general fund, they will violate a promise made to Yolo

County voters. In its February 2, 2005 letter to the Yolo County Taxpayer Association, the county promised no general

funds would be used to fund the purchase of Conaway Ranch and County CAO Vic Singh was quoted in Davis Enterprise

(2/3/05) as saying, “The county is confident it can obtain the necessary funds without utilizing General Fund

monies.” However, a county contingency plan reveals an $80 million finance plan that diverts tribal mitigation funds

from the County’s general revenue fund from local schools, roads, police and fire protection to purchase Conaway

Ranch. The plan also calls for diverting $1 million in tobacco settlement bond (Pomona Fund) monies that fund

Yolo County smoking prevention programs.

Since Yolo County is five months past due its self-imposed deadline to secure short-term financing for purchasing

Conaway Ranch, the financial security of the county’s general fund is at risk. A more recent finance plan identifies

January 2005 as the month to “File Condemnation or abandon.”

In today’s news breaking story, Woodland Daily Democrat columnist and former Senator, Jim Nielsen writes, “Public

records disclose that Yolo County supervisors are considering using tribal gaming mitigation money to pay for the

The county appears desperate to find money for land speculation.” Nielsen goes on to say, “So much for the county promise

no general funds would be used for the Conaway Ranch. If these funds are spent to buy the Conaway Ranch they won’t go to

any public projects or programs.”

Since the County cancelled JPA meetings, the Yolo County Taxpayer Association has called for the county to resume public

meetings. Had public meetings not been cancelled, it is possible that the county’s secret finance plan would have been revealed

earlier through questioning at public meetings rather than through a public records request.

“The County’s finance plan illustrates the danger taxpayers face when their elected leaders meet behind closed doors,” said

Dudley Holman, President of the Yolo County Taxpayer Association. “Now that the cat is out of the bag, our County

Supervisors need to explain why money for schools and public safety is better spent on purchasing a ranch or reaffirm their

pledge to not spend general revenue funds on purchasing Conaway Ranch.”

Yolo County Taxpayers Association is the voice of Yolo County taxpayers and is dedicated to ensuring greater government

accountability to county taxpayers.

Respectfully submitted,

Dudley Holman

President, Yolo County Taxpayers Association

11 West Casa Linda Drive, Woodland, CA 95695

Also Attached: County Documents “Project financing & Financial issues,” by Auditor-Controller Howard Newens.

To read Jim Nielsen’s column, visit