Board OKs $20,000 Poll on Tax Hike to Buy Land

Ventura County supervisors agreed Tuesday to commission a $20,000 public opinion poll to find out if voters are still willing to tax themselves to buy and preserve vacant land.

An earlier poll suggested that voters might open their wallets if the backers of an open-space district showed them how land preservation would benefit them. But that 2001 survey needs updating as the board considers putting the question on the November 2004 ballot, county leaders said. The county is considering either an eighth- or one-quarter-cent increase in the sales tax to buy land.

Board Chairwoman Judy Mikels cast the only no vote. She said the board should postpone the poll until the county learns whether severe budget cuts are necessary because of financial problems in Sacramento.

Staff told supervisors it could cost about $200,000 to prepare a measure for the ballot. Supervisors will decide next year whether to pay for the effort.