1 month ago
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PARLIER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The City of Parlier is putting a large operation task connected hold.
On Oct. 2, the Parlier City Council voted 4-1 to redirect funds distant from the city’s projected indoor-outdoor sports park. Mayor Alma Beltran was the lone ‘no’ vote, and she said she is disappointed successful the council.
"What was voted connected is the existent ARPA funds to beryllium moved implicit to the wide fund,” Beltran said. "I voted against it due to the fact that $1.9 cardinal was for an indoor-outdoor sports park. And these are ARPA funds that were already allocated from the national authorities to spell to this project."
Instead, Beltran said wealth was moved to the city’s wide money to screen different budgeting shortfalls.
"In our 24/25 budget, the constabulary section went from 2.8 cardinal to 3.8. So we were successful a deficit, astir a $700,000 shortage implicit expenses connected legal. I've seen immoderate IA investigations, immoderate lawyer fees,” Beltran said.
The mayor's main interest is that the wealth was provided done peculiar COVID backing and that the national authorities whitethorn callback the money.
"ARPA funds are specifically for projects that are going to payment the community. And if it was COVID-related. The overspending connected the constabulary section is not COVID-related. So to me, my interest is that erstwhile the national authorities does our audit, we mightiness person to wage backmost that 1.9 million," Beltran said.
The politician besides added that it's not lone the national authorities that whitethorn privation its wealth back.
"We received an earmark from Senator Anna Caballero that was specifically for that sports park. We mightiness person to wage that backmost arsenic well,” Mayor Beltran said.
It’s quality that doesn’t beryllium good with immoderate residents.
"We spot the assemblage speech astir these things… and past thing ever follows through," Parlier nonmigratory Jose Martinez said. He grew up successful Parlier and is present a begetter of 2 kids. "A batch of warring has been going on. It's champion that we benignant of support the kids retired of the streets and stuff."
YourCentralValley.com reached retired to each different assembly members for remark and has not heard back.
"I don't deliberation we person a truly understandable relationship,” Beltran said.
Beltran tells Yourcentralvalley.com that if she's capable to unafraid grants to bring the sports task backmost to life, it would instrumentality different 4 to 5 years to complete.
