Restoring Trust in County Contracts; Install Financial Oversight and Monitor Risk
When small businesses throughout the County of San Diego, apply to be contractors for County Business, they need to be able to trust the system. This is especially important for minority-based businesses who are seeking county contracts. Contracted work represents $2 billion of taxpayer funds or roughly a quarter of the $9 billion plus County budget.
The County has been commended on having a clearly defined bid selection process and training and rules for those who make contracting decisions. Once the contract is signed is where the oversight ends, according to a recent report by independent auditors.
“The County of San Diego could be a model for other counties if they undertake the necessary steps to shore up guidelines with performance oversight and active risk monitoring over the length of an agreement. If elected as your next San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector, I will make it a priority to be actively involved in establishing this county-wide framework which will monitor contractor agreements to ensure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely. I will recommend that we create a standardized set of guidelines for all departments when it comes to contracting compliance. And in my department, we will install a financial warning system that will flag a contract that is failing to meet specified benchmarks or when a contractor’s performance is below standards. As San Diego County’s Treasurer, I will personally watch over taxpayer income to ensure that we are fiscally responsible. As a CPA and business owner, I have spent four decades doing exactly this kind of work: finding inefficiencies, protecting every dollar, and delivering results. San Diego County taxpayers deserve nothing less."—Shirley Nakawatase, CPA and candidate for San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector
Written by Shirley Nakawatase, CPA | September 12, 2026 | Nakawatase is a candidate for San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector
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