Mosquito District Told Large Reserve Is Legal

The Moorpark Mosquito Abatement District has not violated any laws or done anything improper by amassing a $1.4-million reserve, a lawyer told district board members Tuesday.

The district, which monitors and controls insect pests around Moorpark, has come under fire for building up such a large reserve. Supervisor Judy Mikels, who represents Moorpark, has even recommended shutting down the district.

But board members have said the money could be needed if the area experiences a sudden insect outbreak.

For their Wednesday meeting, board members brought in attorney Michael F. Perrett to tell them whether any statute prevented them from maintaining such a large reserve.

“It’s a political question for the board to decide,” he replied. “If the board decides that $1.4 million is a reasonable amount to have in reserve, then the board can do that.”

Board member Bill La Perch asked whether a mechanism existed for returning money to Moorpark taxpayers should the board decide that it does not need the full $1.4-million reserve. Perrett said he knew of no such mechanism.

The board took no formal action Wednesday concerning the reserve. President David Austin said board members would discuss the proper size of the reserve fund at a future meeting.

Perrett also commented on another recent criticism of the district, namely its habit of storing some records at the office of its secretary rather than at the district office on Walnut Canyon Road. Perrett recommended that the board approve a policy detailing where records will be kept and how they will be provided to the public. Board members will discuss creating such a policy at their next meeting.