Campaign Heats Up Over Park Tax

The campaigns both for and against a city initiative to tax residents for park services are gearing up as the election nears.

While detractors of Measure P are maintaining a grass-roots approach, handing out fliers and asking residents to pass on the message, supporters are taking a more aggressive stance.

They distributed more than 1,000 balloons with pro-Measure P messages during the city’s western-themed festival Country Days. They also have held fund-raisers and informational meetings at local restaurants.

On Nov. 4, city leaders will ask residents to tax themselves to maintain the city’s 13 parks.

The city placed the item on the ballot in response to the passage last year of statewide Proposition 218. That measure requires two-thirds voter approval in order for assessment districts to continue to levy taxes, such as those that go to maintain Moorpark’s 105 acres of parkland.

Measure P will allow the city to continue levying taxes through its park assessment districts. And it also could boost taxes by up to $68.50 a year.

If Measure P is approved, the money would go to pay for gardening, maintain park buildings and provide other maintenance services.

But the possibility of paying additional tax has concerned members of the Ventura County Alliance of Taxpayers, which opposes the measure.

“We thought the tax rate they were looking at for this program was higher than it need be,” said Jere Robings, president of the taxpayer group. “We had a lot of calls expressing concerns about the additional taxes.”

The city currently spends $57 yearly per home to maintain the parks: $40 of that comes from homeowners and $17 from the city’s general fund. Backers of the measure said the maximum increase of $68.50 was set to account for inflation of up to 2% annually over the next 10 years.

They also said it’s likely the amount would be much lower than that during the first several years.

But ultimately, supporters say, if the measure fails it could cause a deterioration in the quality of city life.

“It’s definitely going to impact our children and seniors,” parks Commissioner Janice Parvin said. “If you don’t maintain the grounds, where are they going to walk and play. . . . I’m worried that potentially if we don’t have any money, we might have a reduction in parks and we may have to fence them off.”

However, critics say city leaders need to take a closer look at the budget before asking for more taxes.

“Micro-management needs to be done of the city expenses,” said resident Tony Simen, who opposes the measure. “They have to be a little more creative with their general funds.”