Use of Public Funds for Ballot Measure Barred

Public funds cannot be used to advocate for or against a proposed initiative on the fate of the closed El Toro Marine base once the measure is placed on the March 2002 ballot, according to a legal opinion by Orange County Counsel Laurence M. Watson.

That is expected to happen this summer, after at least 71,206 voter signatures are gathered. The Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative would replace the county’s zoning for an airport with that of a large park.

South Orange County cities opposed to the airport pledged this month to stop spending public funds on advertisements. A nine-city coalition has sued Newport Beach over a mailer suggesting a new park would trigger a tax increase.