June 2008

Dear Citizens of Santa Cruz County,

It is with great pride that we present the 2007-2008 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report. State law charges the Grand Jury with review and oversight of county agencies and entities that receive county funds. Our task is to investigate and report on county operations to ensure they are being administered efficiently, honestly, and in the best interests of citizens. The Grand Jury believes this report will add to your understanding of issues within Santa Cruz County. We hope that the information presented, the issues raised, and the problems found will contribute to a more responsive, accessible, and responsible government.

This report is a compilation of information provided by your public officials, research by the Grand Jury, and the insights we gained during our interviews. Our charge is to make sure the information is correct and presented to you without bias. We have done our best to be objective, and we hope that much good comes from our efforts.

We would like to thank the various entities and county employees who took the time to educate us and answer our questions. I would personally like to thank my fellow grand jurors who have given generously of a most precious commodity, their own time.

Sincerely,

Pat Rex, Foreperson

2007-2008 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury