City to Receive a $1.4-Million Windfall

Facing a projected $800,000 deficit in fiscal year 1999-2000, the city of Moorpark will receive a $1.4-million windfall within two weeks, representing the city’s share from the disbanding of an insect control assessment district this year.

The 37-year-old Moorpark Mosquito Abatement District had been sitting on a $1.59-million revenue nest egg when the Ventura County Board of Supervisors disbanded it in July.

At the time, the board and the City Council had agreed Moorpark would receive 91.7% of those revenues and the county the rest.

The district was formed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in 1960 to control mosquitoes, flies and other insects that could transmit diseases in the then-rural area.

But with the city’s growth and the loss of agricultural operations, critics questioned the district’s usefulness. Soon after, the district was dissolved.

Councilman John Wozniak said the council should wait until its budget negotiations early next year before deciding how to spend the money.

Mayor Patrick Hunter said he would recommend not spending any of the money next year and either placing it in the city’s general fund reserve or investing it in something that would give the city a return.

The city faces an $800,000 shortfall because of the disbanding in June of its park assessment district. The city also was forced by the state controller’s office to shift $284,000 in city budget funds because the city had misused state money.

In an effort to balance the budget and not shut down its parks, the council may proceed with a mail ballot election that would recoup the $800,000.