A new year’s jury

July 1 — today— marks both the halfway mark through the current
calendar year and the first day of a new fiscal year for local and
state governments, as well as some businesses and non-profit
organizations.
Coming close to July 4 and our Independence Day, the beginning
of July is always draped in red, white and blue with patriotic
songs being practiced or hummed.
And, coincidentally or not, July 1 is also the first day of a
new “weather” year, when the recordkeeping books for all the rain
and temperature statistics of the last 12 months are closed and a
new set of daily records is opened.
So many days and dates to remember; so little time to be
reminded why. Governments first adopted a fiscal year ending on
June 30 because there was always too much happening on December 31.
Imagine our elected officials trying to pass a budget during the
busy days around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
Once upon a time, the six extra months between Dec. 31 and June
30 was enough reprieve for our government leaders to work out the
details of a new budget. Not anymore. California’s State
Legislature and governor haven’t passed an on-time budget in almost
a decade. Congress and the federal government gave up the charade
long ago and now begin their fiscal year on October 1.
July 1 is a better marking for things more real or even
perpetual than the shredding of last year’s budget spreadsheets.
Nowadays, governments routinely amend and revise their spending
plans and tax balances. No wonder no one really knows how to find
the bottom line anymore.
A more perpetual action taken every year at this time is the
release of the local Grand Jury series of reports and
investigations. The Grand Jury is a codified part of our government
that predates even our Declaration of Independence and our people’s
republic. The earliest grand juries were commissioned by England’s
King John in the 13th Century under the strict requirements of the
Magna Carta.
Grand Juries are a permanent “ombudsman” or every citizen’s
“last resort of grievance.” Today’s newspaper reports on some of
the latest work by our independent Grand Jury.
At work all year, 19 men and women took up the cause and
complaints of individual fellow citizens to investigate such issues
as rising sewer rates in a special district, persistent delays in
obtaining building permits, safety in downtown parking garages, the
ethical behavior of appointed planning commissioners, the humane
operation of our county jail and the nutrition value of our
children’s school lunches.
Not one of these cases points to a major crisis, act of
malfeasance or miscarriage of justice. But each is vital in its own
very singular lesson and purpose. And, as a body of work, the
annual Grand Jury Report reaffirms that every man and woman has a
voice and a legal standing to be heard and answered.
Complete copies of the 2009-2010 Sonoma County Grand Jury Report
will be distributed next week in various local newspapers including
this one. An application form to join next year’s Grand Jury panel
will be printed on the last page. Positions will be filled next
July 1, 2011.
For the record, the 2009-10 weather year that ended yesterday
would be called “almost average” and a welcome improvement over two
previous years of near-drought. Rainfall totals across the Redwood
Empire were just below historic averages and almost 50 percent
ahead of the previous year’s totals. Timing can be almost as
important as rain totals, but winegrape growers and other local
farmers are not complaining about their full reservoirs and
wells.
This year, July 1 also happens to mark the start of an extended
Fourth of July weekend, full of fireworks displays, town square
gatherings and some family getaways.
Jury reports, weather charts, a new year of government fiscal
crisis. Let’s light the fireworks!
— Rollie Atkinson