The new lessons and survey follow a federal investigation into Redlands Unified’s handling of sexual misconduct — and come amid nationwide cuts to civil rights enforcement.
Measure T Oversight Committee affirms fiscal responsibility, calls for increased transparency
The seven member committee confirmed that the voter-approved sales tax revenue use aligns with campaign promises while calling for greater transparency in the budget process.
REDLANDS, Calif. — The Measure T Citizens Oversight Committee presented its annual report to the Redlands City Council on March 18, confirming that the city has used its voter-approved sales tax revenue in alignment with campaign promises while calling for greater transparency in the budget process.
Why it matters: Voters approved the 1-cent sales tax by 57% in 2020. While the money goes into the general fund, an oversight committee was established to make sure the money is spend on what the campaign promised including, restore city personnel to pre-pandemic and then pre-recession levels, address homelessness, maintain library services, improve parks, fund public safety facilities and equipment and support animal services.
Details: In fiscal year 2024, Measure T generated $20.19 million in revenue, surpassing budget projections by approximately 1%. The additional revenue, committee members said, reflects a stable local economy.
Scott Welsh, vice chair of the committee, emphasized the importance of the oversight process. “We many times compare our community to others that have implemented similar measures, and not all of them have advisory committees,” Welsh said. “Our role is to ensure that the city keeps its promises.”
Welsh outlined the committee’s two main responsibilities:
reviewing how the city spends Measure T revenue and
providing recommendations to the council before budget decisions.
He noted that the campaign literature and ballot language are referenced during oversight to ensure spending aligns with voter expectations.
The report confirmed that Measure T funds have helped restore city personnel to pre-pandemic and pre-recession levels and supported initiatives to address homelessness. Other priorities, such as maintaining library services, funding public safety facilities and equipment, improving parks, and supporting animal services, were also addressed, though some remain a work in progress.
However, the committee raised concerns about the timing of its involvement in the budget process. “We reiterate a recommendation that we be given the opportunity to weigh in between the budget adoption and the audit,” Welsh said. “When we don’t meet, it compromises our ability to fulfill the oversight presence that this measure was campaigned on.”
Discrepancies in Spending
During a recent interview, Toni Momberger, chair of the oversight committee, went into more details about the committee's concerns, which center discrepancies in spending between the budget approval and the audit.
“This is about keeping faith with the voters,” Momberger said. “They approved this measure with the understanding that an oversight committee would track spending and make sure it aligned with what they were told. But if the city doesn’t involve us in these major decisions, how can we do that?”
Momberger pointed to the most recent annual audit of Measure T spending, which showed multiple instances where actual expenditures far exceeded what was approved.
One example: the committee had reluctantly approved $500,000 for sidewalk, curb, and ADA ramp improvements — but the city ultimately spent $1.36 million. The committee had previously expressed concern that such projects were not clearly promised to voters in the original Measure T campaign.
“We’re not saying the work isn’t needed,” she said. “We’re saying this isn’t what the community said it wanted Measure T money to fund."
Another example was a library and recreation staffing line item that doubled from $1 million to $2 million in actual spending.
In both cases, Momberger said the shift in scope and scale happened without any opportunity for input.
“It’s about category changes,” she said. “If we approved money for public safety equipment and then it gets spent on alley repaving, we need a chance to weigh in.”
Momberger noted two specific changes to increase transparency: to be consulted when Measure T funds are reallocated or significantly increased after the budget is adopted and to revise the city’s budget process to include the committee in post-adoption spending decisions.
Chairwoman Momberger bids farewell
Tuesday’s meeting also marked the final report for Momberger, who has served on the committee since its inception. Unable to seek reappointment due to district boundary changes, Momberger expressed gratitude to city staff, fellow committee members and the residents of Redlands.
Momberger acknowledged the challenges of overseeing city spending but praised city staff’s professionalism and commitment to fiscal responsibility.
“Knowing that once the city had the money, it could legally spend it however it wanted, voters still put their trust in the city to use this revenue the way it was promised,” she said. “And every single audit has shown that you acted in good faith. So thank you.”
Several council members and city officials thanked Momberger and the committee for their service, highlighting the importance of independent oversight. “Your reports have been fantastic, and I’m glad to hear that we’re using the money as we said we would,” Council member Paul Barich said.
The City Council received and filed the annual report, and the Measure T Oversight Committee will meet again ahead of the next fiscal year’s budget adoption.
Open Seats on the Measure T Oversight Committee
With Momberger’s departure and additional term expirations, the city is seeking applicants to fill open seats on the Measure T Citizens Oversight Committee.
Applications are available on the city’s website and are due by April 9. More details on the open positions and the application process can be found here.
