Cemetery district gets transparency award

The Kern County Cemetery District, which includes both the Shafter and Wasco Cemeteries, were awarded the California Special Districts Association Transparency Certification at the California Association of Public Cemeteries at a meeting last month.

This program was created by the Special District Leadership Foundation in an effort to promote transparency in the operations and governance of special districts to the public and to provide special districts with an opportunity to showcase their efforts in transparency.

This certificate is recognized for two years; it emphasizes basic state and local transparency requirements.

The Kern County Cemetery District continues to be part of an elite group by reaching the Platinum Level of accreditation. Of the approximately 2,300 special districts.

In order to receive the award, a special district must demonstrate the completion of essential governance transparency requirements, including conducting ethics training for all board members, properly conducting an open meeting, and filing financial transactions and compensation reports in a timely manner.

The district also fulfilled 22 website requirements, including providing readily available information to the public, such as board agendas, past minutes, the current district budget,and the most recent financial audit.

—Jamie Stewart