Council to Discuss Library Fee Policy

Thousand Oaks leaders tonight will discuss the existing city policy of providing library services to the 5,000 to 6,000 residents of several unincorporated areas bordering the city.

In 1989, Thousand Oaks signed an agreement with Ventura County to provide library services to residents in the communities of Lynn Ranch, Ventu Park and unincorporated sections of Newbury Park. As a result, the county pays the city a yearly fee.

But because the county’s fee has not been enough to match what it costs Thousand Oaks to provide the service, the city has subsidized the county residents by $1.24 million over the years. Moreover, according to city officials, the county has often been late paying.

Hoping to end the imbalance, Library Director Marvin Smith earlier this year recommended ending the agreement with the county and charging residents in the unincorporated area the same $55 annual fee that other nonresidents must pay. The City Council, which agreed to hold off on a decision for 60 days at the request of county Supervisors Frank Schillo and Kathy Long, now will revisit the issue.

The check had yet to arrive as of Monday, but the county has apparently sent roughly $60,000 to Thousand Oaks to cover the service for the current fiscal year, which comes to a close at the end of the month, city officials said.

“It would seem that the county has agreed to follow the contract,” said Deputy Library Director Steve Brogden. “I am told the check is in the mail.”