The Serpico Files

Tip line

Seen something? Tell us.

School district, city hall, county, water board. Bonds, contracts, consultants. You don't have to give your name.

frankSerpicoJr@pm.me

Write from a personal device, not a work computer or network.
An encrypted mailbox like Proton keeps your name off the message.
Send what you have: agendas, contracts, invoices, emails.
Tell us the agency, the dates and who signed off.

Who we are

About the Serpico Files

An independent, citizen-run watchdog. We read the agendas, contracts and audits and follow the money on the bonds that show up on your property tax bill.

We take no money from districts, contractors, consultants or campaigns. Everything we post links to the public record so you can check it yourself.

The law

Know the rules

Government Code §1090: Officials, employees and consultants who help shape a public contract can't hold a financial interest in it. A contract made in violation is void.
Prop. 39 oversight: A bond passed at 55% must have a citizens' oversight committee and annual financial and performance audits (Education Code §15278).
No public money for campaigns: Districts can't spend public funds campaigning for their own bond. Attorney General Opinion 13-304 (2016) covers "free" pre-election work traded for later bond business.
Competitive selection: Since 2017, lease-leaseback school construction has to go through a competitive process (AB 2316).

Documents