In the sad history of the Postmus-Jim Lindley -County of San Bernardino- Developers- Nowicki- Honeycutt- Good Old Boys network ripping off the residents of Hesperia. Jim Lindley probably did the most damage to the community through allowing the continuing County robbery of the Hesperia property tax money in exchange for his future County job way back in 2001. Read the story below and guess what happened in the meeting between Postmus and Lindley on returning a fair share of tax money to Hesperia. If you guessed nothing happened- congratulations. The County to this day takes 14% of Hesperia property tax dollars and the City still gets a penny back for the roads and cops. Another one of his great moves was making Honeycutt the Mayor of Hesperia after the California Charter School Audit was released to the public. 

In looking back as to where the sweetheart deal was made for the County to rob Hesperia's Property Tax money. I discovered  the connection was between Hesperia's Jim Lindley as Mayor and  Bill Postmus as Supervisor for the County. Now 7 years later Lindley works for the County and Hesperia still only gets 1.1 cents back from the County out of every property tax dollar while the County keeps 14%.  

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VV Daily Press Friday, June 1, 2001

Wyman pulls Hesperia legislation

LEGISLATURE : Assemblyman says county supervisor assures him of meeting to work out deal.

By JENNIFER PELTZ/Staff Writer

HESPERIA — Assemblyman Phil Wyman withdrew his bill to give Hesperia a bigger share of property taxes after Fourth District Supervisor Fred Aguiar assured him city and county officials would meet and work on an agreement.

"I killed the bill because we'd rather do it together at the local level," Wyman, R-Tehachapi, said. "That bill served its purpose and it's now dead."

But Aguiar stressed he didn't commit to a particular course of action.

"I have made no agreement with Mr. Wyman," Aguiar said. "I have made no commitment on behalf of the county.

"The county opposed the bill. The county remains opposed to the bill," he said.

Aguiar, who represents the Ontario area, is chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

Wyman's Assembly Bill 1378 was designed to give Hesperia a larger share of property taxes collected by the county.

The assemblyman now considers the bill unnecessary since the parties are getting together to discuss the issue, Wyman's Chief of Staff Doug Haaland said.

He said the agreement calls for Hesperia officials and county representatives to sit down and address the city's needs.

Hesperia Mayor Jim Lindley said it's too early to know what will come out of the meeting.

But Lindley said negotiations at the local level might get money to the city quicker than if the bill were to continue its way through the Legislature.

If the city does get more money, it will be earmarked for road repairs.

"What we're hoping it means is that we would have an ongoing revenue source to continue to fix the roads in the city," Lindley said. "We've spent every extra dime in the city to fix roads."

Hesperia officials want to have a good relationship with the county, he said.

"Why force the issue when we'll have to work with the county on a variety of issues for the foreseeable future?" Lindley said.

If county and city officials can't agree, Wyman can reintroduce the bill in January, Haaland said.

Wyman doesn't think that will be necessary.

"My political instincts tell me they're going to come to a resolution that takes care of the taxpayers and citizens of Hesperia," Wyman said.

Hesperia stood to gain an extra $2 million a year if Assembly Bill 1378 went through — roughly 20 percent of the city's operating budget. Wyman introduced the bill in February.

"The bottom line is the city of Hesperia has not received its fair share of road money from the county and I'm going to work on trying to bring more dollars to the city," First District Supervisor Bill Postmus said.

"I'm going to begin working on a plan with the city of Hesperia in terms of bringing road money to Hesperia and working on Board of Supervisors' support for that plan," he said.

Hesperia receives 1.7 cents of every dollar collected from property taxes — the lowest amount in the county.

This was Hesperia's second attempt in the past three sessions of the state Legislature to pass such a bill. The first try, Assembly Bill 1057, failed on the Senate floor in 1999.

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VV Daily Press Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Lindley takes on county duties

Becomes director of legislative affairs; will retain Hesperia City Council responsibilities

By MIGUEL GONZALEZ

Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO — Hesperia Mayor Jim Lindley will be introduced today as the county's director of legislative affairs, a spokesperson for the chairman of the Board of Supervisors said.

Lindley will be responsible for identifying federal and state legislation programs that could affect the county. He will make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and coordinate the advocacy effort with the county's contract lobbyist in Sacramento and Washington D.C.

"His work with the city of Hesperia had always impressed the supervisor. In the past, he has done a great job advocating legislation for the city," Brad Mitzelfelt, First District Supervisor Bill Postmus' chief of staff, said.

Lindley was selected for the position from a field of 40 candidates. The new full-time job will pay him a total annual compensation package of $149,000, including benefits.

Despite having his first day of work Monday, Lindley's position will have to be approved today by the Board of Supervisors — a mere formality, Mitzelfelt said.

"I feel great about it. I have been looking for a position in county government for a number of years," Lindley said Monday.

Lindley said his new position will be his primary responsibility, without compromising his responsibilities to Hesperia.

Mitzelfelt said Lindley's position as mayor does not constitute a conflict of interest for his new job.

"Globally speaking, I get criticism no matter what I do," Lindley said.

Mitzelfelt said that upon accepting the job Lindley has agreed to stop advocating legislation on behalf of the city of Hesperia.

"We have five City Council members that can do that. My schedule has always been full. This new job will not prevent me from serving my responsibilities as mayor," Lindley said.