‘Disappointed’: Parlier mayor speaks out after sports park project canceled

On Oct. 2, the Parlier City Council voted 4-1 to redirect funds away from the city’s proposed indoor-outdoor sports park. Mayor Alma Beltran was the only ‘no’ vote, and she said she is disappointed in the council.

“What was voted on is the actual ARPA funds to be moved over to the general fund,” Beltran said. “I voted against it because $1.9 million was for an indoor-outdoor sports park. And these are ARPA funds that were already allocated from the federal government to go to this project.”

Instead, Beltran said money was moved to the city’s general fund to cover other budgeting shortfalls.

“In our 24/25 budget, the police department went from 2.8 million to 3.8. So we were in a deficit, about a $700,000 deficit over expenses on legal. I’ve seen some IA investigations, some attorney fees,” Beltran said.

The mayor’s main concern is that the money was provided through special COVID funding and that the federal government may recall the money.

“ARPA funds are specifically for projects that are going to benefit the community. And if it was COVID-related. The overspending on the police department is not COVID-related. So to me, my concern is that when the federal government does our audit, we might have to pay back that 1.9 million,” Beltran said.

The mayor also added that it’s not only the federal government that may want its money back.

“We received an earmark from Senator Anna Caballero that was specifically for that sports park. We might have to pay that back as well,” Mayor Beltran said.

It’s news that doesn’t sit well with some residents.

“We see the community talk about these things… and then nothing ever follows through,” Parlier resident Jose Martinez said. He grew up in Parlier and is now a father of two kids. “A lot of fighting has been going on. It’s best that we kind of keep the kids out of the streets and stuff.”

YourCentralValley.com reached out to all other council members for comment and has not heard back.

“I don’t think we have a really understandable relationship,” Beltran said.

Beltran tells Yourcentralvalley.com that if she’s able to secure grants to bring the sports project back to life, it would take another four to five years to complete.