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State auditor ranks Palmdale among cities with lowest risk of fiscal distress in California

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PALMDALE – The most recent comprehensive financial analysis by the California State Auditor (CSA) revealed that the city of Palmdale has one of the lowest risks of fiscal distress in California, officials announced Wednesday.

Of the 453 cities that were analyzed, Palmdale came in at the 410th lowest risk, putting it in the top 10 percent of California cities.

As part of the CSA’s high-risk local government audit program, the Auditor has established a process for determining whether a local government agency is at risk of fiscal distress. The CSA made its findings public on a dashboard that ranks the fiscal health of 453 California cities from highest to lowest risk, using ten key financial indicators. The dashboard is available at https://www.auditor.ca.gov/local_high_risk/dashboard-csa.

A statement by California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle, CPA on their website reads, “We recognize that the citizens and the government rely on us to ensure the effective and efficient administration and management of public funds and programs. It is our job to help make sure that California government stays one step ahead. As the State’s independent external auditor, we provide nonpartisan, accurate, and timely assessments of California government’s financial and operational activities in compliance with generally accepted government auditing standards.”

“Being fiscally sound is something our Council has made as a top priority for Palmdale,” said Palmdale Mayor Steve Hofbauer. “Being ranked in the top 10 percent of fiscally strong cities in the state sends a great message to existing and potential new business who are looking to grow or relocate to Palmdale.”

“Thanks to the prudent leadership of our City Council and the commitment they and our staff have to our residents and taxpayers, we are continuing to bring an outstanding level of services and program to our community even in these challenging times,” said Palmdale City Manager J.J. Murphy. “We will continue to work as good stewards of the public’s money, especially in light of the trust placed in us with the passage of Measure AV. Our commitment to you is that we will continue to be fiscally prudent and transparent in order to deliver the best to our residents, businesses, and visitors.”

For more information, visit https://www.auditor.ca.gov/local_high_risk/dashboard-csa

[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]

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26 comments for "State auditor ranks Palmdale among cities with lowest risk of fiscal distress in California"

  1. If we are at low risk… why is our sales tax now 10.25%? Why was it needed on the ballot then? That’s what I thought.

    • It is okay! The two cities, Lancaster and Palmdale used to be two totally separate cities. Now they have griwn to where it is hard to know where one ends and the other begins. I prefer the West side of Palmdale. Newer area close to shopping centers and nice housing.

    • That’s what happens when we let criminals out of prison across the state. We still pay the police, the courts, and the detention facilities lots of money, but the politicians let the criminals out. All of the cost with none of the benefit.

    • Not sure where you get your stats from but it is not a high crime city! My neighbors leave their garage doirs open and very little crime.

  5. Damn Dave, you sound much like Tim Scott, or are you really him? Why do you think bad of Trump voters for anyway? You for sure don’t want any unity in our country so just leave. Look in the mirror and you will see a fool, a sucker and a loser.

    • Really?

      Did you read and comprehend the article? Doesn’t sound like it.

      Many thanks to Mayor Jim Ledford for 26 years of building Palmdale despite several severe recessions and nonstop interference from Rex.

      Hofbauer came in when things were doing well, drained the rainy day surplus and wanted a tax raise to deal with the current ‘rainy day’.

      And, he wants to take credit for it. Really? Oh, that’s you. Hofbauer likely sits on a fence at sunrise like rooster and thinks he caused it.

      We’ll see how good he is the next couple years. I doubt he has the skills to lure businesses here like Mayor Ledford did. One look and conversation with Hof and you can imagine what goes through a company CEO’s mind. He’s like a pearl in bottle of Prell shampoo, slowly, slowly drifting downward cause it’s so thick. It’s a very old commercial but the analogy fits.

      Now watch Hofbauer reply using an alias telling us he won the election. So did Trump and look where we are. There’s a sucker born every minute and they vote unwisely. Then they blame the losers of the elections for the lousy job their guy did just like Trump voters.

      Go over to the Katie Hill article and see them rag on her while Garcia is just a seat warmer in the House of Representatives. That’s all they want it seems.

      • Yes, I read it and comprehended it. The problem with you Dave is you add things to make something into something you can complain about. This is the way of the moment so you can feel good about yourself.

        This is just a group of folks patting themselves on the back for running a third world city fiscally sound. It is a shame it has become this way, but hey, it is what the voters wanted.

        • The new Palmdale City Council majority is taking steps to limit Hofbauer and Loa so we may be starting the New Year on the right track for Palmdale. Cannot trust the City Council yet so we will watch and hope. Keep it up

      • We get it Dave. You are a Ledford supporter, not a Hofbauer supporter. It is a shame Ledford got run out of town by a bunch of “progressives” who dug up dirt to get him sent out in shame. Huh, sounds familiar. Anyway, that article is meant to make a politician look good. Don’t have a stroke.

    • Apparently you have never been to a 3rd world city! Palmdale’s crime is way lower than Lancaster and pretty safe! Do you actually live here or just like running it down?

      • I actually lived here (there) for many years. I got tired of the third world mentality. It used to be confined between 15th St East and Division. Now it has spread like a virus to all edges of the valley.

        Yes, I have also spent time in third world countries/cities. Strange, people there actually had more respect for each other.