Vote on Anti-Smog Fee Increase Delayed

Air quality officials on Tuesday postponed for one month voting on a controversial proposal to increase the fees polluters pay to fund Ventura County anti-smog programs.

The Air Pollution Control District, running out of money as it attempts to clean one of the nation’s smoggiest regions, says it needs to raise fees for 1,200 companies by 25% over the next two years.

The move would generate nearly $500,000 in additional annual revenue, enough to ensure that the district has adequate operating reserves and can continue to pay for clean-air programs through 2004. Additional revenues would be needed after that.

But the district’s 10-member governing board, concerned about costs and the timing of the proposal, opted to postpone action until its next regular meeting June 8.

Board members said the delay would allow them to consider new fees in conjunction with the agency’s next budget, allow time to answer outstanding questions and ensure that all board members can participate in the decision.

Local business groups have given the fee proposal mixed reviews.

Some companies acknowledge that higher fees are inevitable, but they oppose raising them so much at once.

Among the companies affected are dry cleaners, auto paint shops, factories, metal finishers and power plants.

Air pollution officials counter that fees haven’t been raised in 13 years and that additional revenue is needed to cover a $1-million annual budget gap that threatens to deplete operating reserves and bankrupt the clean-air program in a few years.