COUNTYWIDE : Transport Panel to Look at New Tax Bid

The Ventura County Transportation Commission is scheduled to meet today to consider whether to resubmit a ballot proposal that would raise the county sales tax a half-cent to fund $500 million in transportation projects.

The commission will discuss the proposal when it meets at 10:30 a.m. at Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive.

In a report to the commission last month, board Executive Director Ginger Gherardi recommended that work begin quickly on placing another sales tax measure on the ballot in November. She said the sooner work begins on drafting a new ballot proposal, the easier it would be to coordinate a campaign to support it.

However, all five members of the commission said they wanted more time to examine why a similar sales tax proposal, known as Measure A, was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in the Nov. 6 election.

Several of the commissioners also expressed concern about the downturn in the economy and whether it would be wise to pursue another tax measure in 1991. But Gherardi has told the commission that if it wants to keep its options open, it should begin work on a new ballot measure now. She said the board can abandon its plans later.