Election on Tax District, Bond Issue OKd

The Fillmore City Council on Thursday decided to ask property owners for big tax increases to finance new roads and other improvements to lure new businesses and jobs to town.

In a 4-0 vote, the council agreed to hold a special election July 26 to approve formation of a tax district and the sale of $5 million in bonds to finance a proposed industrial park.

The election, in which 13 of the town’s largest landowners will vote, will determine the fate of plans to bolster the city’s economy by making the area more attractive to new business with $2.8 million in improved roads, sewers and water lines.

City Manager Roy Payne said new industry would provide an influx of property taxes and create up to 1,500 new jobs--a big boost for a town of 11,200 residents. It would also give a shot in the arm to the local economy with spinoff business, he said.

“By having 1,000 to 1,500 people working here in the city, the expectation is that they would be buying goods and services from the businesses in the city,” Payne said.

Fillmore’s economy is largely dependent on farming operations and a small number of roadside businesses that line California 126. As a result, Fillmore residents in non-agricultural jobs have had to commute to as far away as Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks.

The proposed 128-acre industrial park is north of Old Telegraph Road in an area that is partly undeveloped. As conceived, the industrial park could handle assembly plants, warehouses and small distribution centers, Payne said.

Despite widespread support for the project among members of the City Council, officials predicted that the election would be close.

Some of the landowners have been reluctant to support the project because of increased taxes under the proposed tax district, said a representative of property owners.

Under the proposal, landowners would received bigger tax bills over the next 25 years to finance improved water and sewer lines, and storm drains. The new assessments per acre would be $787 for sewers, $655 for water and $2,950 for storm drains.

“All the property owners voiced support for the project; however, some are having a difficult time justifying the annual assessment for the project,” said Scott Heaton, project manager for the Collett Group of Thousand Oaks. His company owns four acres in the proposed tax district.

He said some of the largest landowners are skeptical of the huge increases in property taxes. Many would have to generate extra business to pay for the improvements, he said.

Among those who may not support the tax district are Ameron-Pole Products Division, Utility Vault Co., which owns Hurst Concrete Products, and Chappie Morris. The votes are weighted by acreage and these three landowners may hold enough land to reject the proposed tax district, Heaton said.

Al Franzen, general manager of Hurst Concrete Products, said company officials approve of the industrial park, but have not made a decision on whether to favor the tax district.

Yearly assessments to Hurst would be $81,176 on 30 acres of property, Franzen said.

“We don’t need the assessment district to improve our property,” Franzen said. But, he added, “the streets would be a help to us.”

Whether landowners support the tax district, city officials have already invested more than four years of time and planning into the project, Councilman Roger Campbell said.

Historically, non-agricultural industry in the 76-year-old city has been dwarfed by the packing houses and processors, including the Fillmore-Piru Citrus Assn. and Ventura County Fruit Growers.

If the project is approved by landowners, it would be the first time the city has invested heavily to create an industrial base.