Shasta County’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is dealing with the departure of its second Chief Fiscal Officer (CFO) in as many years. Vicki Thompson, who was hired to manage and oversee all fiscal and accounting services for the agency, left her role on July 2.

Financial Uncertainty

The agency has been struggling with financial difficulties, including a severe shortfall that required a $10 million loan from the county’s general fund. Despite this, Thompson provided no public insight into the agency’s finances during her tenure. Instead, HHSA Director Christy Coleman and Administrative Branch Director Erinn Watts have taken the lead in public conversations about the agency’s finances, largely blaming the financial difficulties on changes at the state and federal level.

Supervisor Matt Plummer expressed concern about the agency’s financial situation, stating that he has never met or spoken with Thompson and was not aware of her departure. Plummer suggested that the CFO position may not have been involved in the agency’s finances in a meaningful way, and that the position might be eliminated.

The agency’s financial issues may necessitate staff furloughs, and Coleman has discussed the possibility of cutting state-required public services to address budget woes. Plummer has proposed an external audit to ensure that the county has a handle on the agency’s financial processes.

Original reporting: Shasta Scout (Redding) — read the source article.