COUNTYWIDE : CAMARILLO/PIRU/OJAI : Supervisors May Put Library Tax to Voters

Ventura County residents who live in Piru or the unincorporated areas around Camarillo and Ojai would have the ability to tax themselves to help subsidize their libraries under a proposal being considered by the Board of Supervisors.

The board on Tuesday will decide whether to place a measure on the March 26 ballot in each of those areas that would impose a parcel tax. The elections would coincide with similar elections in the cities of Ojai and Camarillo.

Because of state budget cutbacks, the county library officials said they would have to close several small libraries next year if they are unable to raise more revenue. Among those targeted for closure at the end of March are the Oak Park Library, the Avenue Library in Ventura and the Oak View and Meiners Oaks libraries in the Ojai Valley.

The library parcel tax in the unincorporated area around Camarillo is proposed at $25 a year for five years, which mirrors the city’s tax proposal. The tax in Piru and the unincorporated area around Ojai would be $35 a year with no time frame specified.