Desert Recreation District Board removes president amid financial questions
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - The Desert Recreation District board has voted to remove Giovanna Healy as board president following a heated special meeting, as questions continue over the district’s finances, transparency and a proposed property tax increase.
The decision comes amid a public dispute over whether Healy has received adequate information about the district’s finances. Healy has raised concerns about financial transparency, while General Manager Dr. Gabriel Martin has disputed her account.
During the meeting, attendees expressed differing views about the board’s decision. Some questioned whether removing Healy would address the concerns she raised, while others defended the board’s handling of the dispute.
La Quinta City Councilmember Steve Sanchez, one of several local leaders who attended the meeting, opposed Healy’s removal. He said taxpayers deserve clearer explanations of the district’s spending before being asked to contribute more money through Measure P.
“Asking the taxpayers for more money when they can’t even themselves explain and justify what are they going to do with that money, how are they going to be more fiscally responsible,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez also questioned the decision to remove Healy, asking, “What are they hiding?”
Board member Rudy Acosta offered a different perspective, saying the dispute was not about whether questions should be asked, but how Healy raised her concerns publicly.
“I was disappointed that our board president chose that venue to go and air some frustrations and claimed that she was the only one asking questions.. BS, we all did,” Acosta said.
Acosta said the board had held several budget sessions and had opportunities to discuss the district’s finances.
Healy did not speak during the meeting but thanked those who attended. Acosta was subsequently voted in as board president for the remainder of the year.
The leadership dispute comes as the district seeks voter approval for Measure P on the November 3 ballot. The proposal would establish an annual property tax of five cents per square foot of building space. The district says the additional revenue would help fund recreation programs, maintain facilities and address rising operating costs.
District staffing increased from 343 employees in 2021 to 482 in 2024, while payroll wages rose from approximately $7 million in 2022 to more than $9 million in 2024. General fund support used to cover operating costs also increased from about $583,000 to more than $4.1 million over a three-year period.
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