PORT HUENEME : Group to Discuss Police Tax Measure

Port Hueneme residents who want to retain the city Police Department rather than contract out for services have scheduled a meeting tonight on how to sell a special police tax to voters.

The June ballot measure would call for enacting special taxes on all businesses and homeowners as well as renters within the city.

The 7 p.m. meeting of newly formed Save Our Port Hueneme Police Department will be held in the Richard Bard Elementary School cafeteria at 622 E. Pleasant Valley Road.

The group was formed after the City Council received money saving contract offers from the county Sheriff’s Department and the Oxnard Police Department and the council decided to give voters the choice of paying the $500,000 to be saved by eliminating the city department.

Port Hueneme has sliced $900,000 a year from its $6.5-million budget and eliminated a dozen city jobs since 1991.

The average renter’s tax would be $35 a year, while homeowners’ taxes would increase an average of $50 a year. Owners of retail buildings would pay $600 more annually and industrial property owners $300 more, city studies show.

Valorie Morrison, a leader of the group, said Monday she believes residents are willing to pay to have a more responsive Police Department.

“We feel so safe having our own department,” Morrison said. “The officers know everybody and everything. We know the benefits of our own Police Department: Our police go out on every call.”

Port Hueneme Police Detective Ken Dobbe will present a $1,000 check from the Port Hueneme Police Officers Assn. at tonight’s meeting for the campaign. The department has 30 employees.

“This should help get the ball rolling,” Dobbe said. “We can respond faster and react quicker if we can handle calls without going through the chain of command of the Sheriff’s Department.”