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Wanted: 7 citizens to hold Metro accountable for how it spends taxpayer dollars
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking citizens from Los Angeles County to be part of an oversight committee monitoring how the agency spends billions in Measure M sales tax funds.
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Last November, Los Angeles County voters approved the Measure M sales tax increase to fund $120 billion in transportation projects over the next 40 years. But how will taxpayers know if they’re getting their money’s worth?
The answer is an Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee created by a county ordinance that helps carry out Measure M.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking seven individuals with at least 10 years of experience across a broad range of backgrounds, including budgeting and public finance, architecture, transit operations, the law and business management.
The committee will meet a minimum of four times a year and help conduct annual audits to assess how Metro spends Measure M funds and how well the agency sticks to the plan approved by voters. The reports will go to the Metro board and be open for public comments. Committee members will receive stipends as compensation for their work.
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Metro will be taking online applications for the positions through March 28 and making recommendations for the board’s approval by the end of June.
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