County to Poll Residents on Open-Space Tax

Ventura County supervisors plan to poll residents about the establishment of a special taxing district to purchase and protect open space.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to hire a consultant to develop questions for the survey.

The central question will be whether county property owners would be willing to tax themselves to purchase farmland or open space for preservation purposes.

Last month, supervisors agreed to ask state lawmakers to draft legislation authorizing the creation of the taxing district.

Supervisors also have been lobbying officials around the county to support the open-space plan.

Supervisor Frank Schillo, who along with colleague John K. Flynn sits on a steering committee studying the plan, said he has already won support from Thousand Oaks and plans to approach Port Hueneme officials next.

Newly elected Supervisor Steve Bennett, who campaigned on a slow-growth platform, has joined the movement.

He has spoken to half a dozen organizations seeking endorsements, winning early support from the Ventura City Council and the League of Women Voters.

After the board’s meeting Tuesday, Bennett made a presentation on the open-space proposal to trustees of the Ventura Unified School District.

The board is expected to draft a resolution offering its support.

Bennett praised fellow supervisors for being aggressive in their push to protect open space.

The chief architect of the successful countywide SOAR growth-control laws said he hopes his presence and reputation as a strong environmentalist will further the cause.

“I hope I can help take this to the next level,” Bennett said. “We can be the first county on the edge of a major metropolis that doesn’t follow the usual sprawl plan.”

Some in the county, however, say they are reluctant to buy into the idea.

Taxpayer advocate Jere Robings said he thinks the chance of voters signing off on such a plan is “very slim.”

“I think everyone likes the idea of open space,” he said. “They were able to sell people on SOAR. But when it comes to increasing their taxes to buy it, people won’t want it that much.

“I’ve talked to so many taxpayers over the years who get upset over a $20 assessment. I don’t think the idea will sell.”

Local economist Mark Schniepp said if supervisors hope to sell such a plan, they cannot be vague about their goals but must instead make voters in different parts of the county believe land purchases improve their lives tangibly.

“Things like this normally get defeated unless they’re well-defined and there’s an identifiable benefit to the taxpayers,” he said.

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Times staff writer Margaret Talev contributed to this story.