REDDING, Calif. — Redding City Councilmember Tenessa Audette has raised concerns about the city’s financial management after months of reviewing past budgets.
Audette said, “In the last two quarters, our cash reserves are at a negative balance, and so that’s obviously quite concerning.” She expressed skepticism about a proposed one percent sales tax initiative, fearing it would be used to fill budget gaps rather than fund public amenities.
Audette enlisted the help of retired city finance director Dennice Maxwell, who was surprised by the findings. “I was quite surprised by not only her knowledge of what she had found, but also that it was occurring,” Maxwell said. “That is not how it was when I was a finance director. Everything was very transparent.”
In contrast, City Manager Barry Tippin defended the city’s financial health, stating, “We don’t have a deficit in the city budget. Let’s just be absolutely forthright.” Tippin assured that the budget is balanced with a 10 percent reserve and that any sales tax revenue would be used legally for public safety and infrastructure. “The sales tax, if it passes, has very specific categories it has to be spent on; not to do so would be against the law,” he said.
The full interviews with Audette, Maxwell and Tippin will soon be available on the KRCR YouTube channel.
