The Price of Being a City

A series of news articles in The Times points up the deficits facing Orange County and the cities of Irvine and San Clemente. The county faces cutbacks in social services, increased costs of the criminal justice system and a tremendous layoff of personnel of up to 22%.

Irvine is about to attach new fees (taxes) to the cost of doing business in that city. Eventual higher prices for the buyers will be a direct result of that act. San Clemente is putting on hold an increase of fire and police protection as revenues in that city fail to meet the expectation of city management, due to a slow-growth policy.

Laguna Hills faces a fee (taxes) of up to $90 for maintenance. This to be added to the property tax bill. There goes Proposition 13!

In view of the above, and because of a positive feasibility study, Mission Viejo Community officers blindly pursue cityhood. A recent survey showed a preference for cityhood, although the complete feasibility study was not made public, giving the voter an insight to possible future taxation or fees.

In the event a city is created, the organizers selfishly hold their interests on a Mission Viejo-only basis. They repel an effort by a Greater Saddleback Cityhood Committee to join hands in becoming one larger city, thus reducing duplication of all services needed if each became cities.

An attempt to ram a city through the processes should be rejected because the vision of successful cityhood is only a vision.

ARTHUR KATZ

Mission Viejo