Recent documents released by Stockton Unified officials are debunking previous claims about trustees overspending their budget. However, the same documents have exposed that several trustees have been making the most out of discretionary spending, with hundreds spent on local eateries, casinos, and cafes.
These revelations, shared by Board President AngelAnn Flores, shed light on the district's spending policies and differentiated between local and travel expenditures. A notable mention in the report was Trustee Cecilia Mendez, who, contrary to prior reports, remained within her spending limit. Yet, her frequent visits to Mi Ranchito restaurant in Stockton – 15 times in just two months and 85 times over two years – have raised eyebrows, with all bills being footed by taxpayers.
Each trustee has a discretionary budget of $3,000, meant for district-related expenses, while travel expenditures have a more flexible approach. Mendez, representing the board at the California School Board Association, has a unique allowance for travel expenses.
Addressing the concerns, Mendez confirmed her adherence to the spending rules and procedures. She clarified the reason behind choosing Mi Ranchito, attributing it to their "reasonable" prices. Over two years, Mendez's total expenses came close to $5,000, primarily on Mexican cuisine.
District officials, responding to media coverage on the matter, clarified the misunderstanding around Mendez's expenses. Spokesperson Melinda Meza confirmed, "Each receipt was turned in and approved." As a gesture of transparency and maintaining public trust, board members have voluntarily handed over their credit cards this week.
AngelAnn Flores spoke at a recent budget oversight committee meeting, addressing her own expenses, which totaled $3,185 from October 2020 to December 2022. Notably, gas station expenses made it to her list, even though the district's policy doesn't typically cover gas, creating ambiguity about the applicability to rental cars.
Other trustees' expenses, such as Alicia Rico's $1,973 and Ray Zulueta's $2,886 on fast food and Uber rides, were also highlighted. Meanwhile, Former Trustee Zachary Avelar's expense report showed a questionable $61 spent at Kings Card Club. As alcohol and gambling are restricted by the district's credit card policy, this expense raised concerns regarding the potential misuse of public funds.
