Moorpark Weighs Funds for Park Maintenance, Landscaping

MOORPARK — With more than $1.3 million in landscaping and park maintenance funds in jeopardy because of Proposition 218, a statewide tax-cutting measure approved by voters last year, Moorpark officials tonight will consider calling a November election on new taxes to cover those services.

Among the proposals by Deputy City Manager Richard Hare is a business license tax of $650 and a parcel tax of $150.

“The city has been very conservative with regard to the implementation of new assessments and new taxes,” Hare said. “We do not have a utility user’s tax, entertainment tax, parcel tax or special tax of any kind.”

Cities across the state are facing the same dilemma as Moorpark, that is recouping millions of dollars used to pay for everything from street lighting to park upkeep.

Moorpark relies on two assessment districts for maintenance purposes--the $719,000 lighting and landscaping district and the $607,000 Parks Maintenance Assessment District.

While the lighting and landscaping district may ultimately be ruled exempt from Proposition 218 requirements, Hare said the parks district will be affected by the measure in the 1997-98 fiscal year.

Keeping those assessments in place would require voter approval by July 1. Short of that, the city has to look at other ways to raise revenue.

To call a November election, the City Council must pass four resolutions by July 2. Alternative election dates include the June 1998 primary and November 1998 general elections.

A consolidated election would cost $5,000 and a special election would cost $25,000, according to Hare.

Moorpark City Councilman Chris Evans said tonight’s meeting is likely to be one of the most important of the year.

“The City Council supports the voters and is giving them exactly what they wanted, which is their opportunity to decide whether they want a park assessment,” he said.

Evans said residents need to be aware that the lost revenue does not affect emergency services.

“If the voters say no to this, we won’t lose police, we won’t lose fire protection, the roads will not collapse. It means less parks,” he said.

Moorpark homeowner Hilary Small, 25, on her weekly trip to Tierra Rejada Park on Monday afternoon, was not aware that she even paid into a fund to keep the parks in good condition.

“Well, it wouldn’t surprise me,” she said.

Her friend, 38-year-old Mary Anne Alsabery, drives from Thousand Oaks because of the quality of the parks in Moorpark. “It’s just great for the kids here. It’s such a clean park,” she said.

While it has yet to take a position on the business license tax issue, the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce is watching the matter closely, said Steve Sill, vice president of economic development.

“For some of the very large businesses, it’s just going to be a nuisance thing,” he said. “For a small businessperson, that’s a lot. That’s a big chunk of money.

“Personally, I’m really opposed to that kind of thing. It’s tough enough for the average businessperson to make it,” Sill said.

Craig Mattey, 32, manager of Mr. Appliance in Moorpark, said: “I’m against the 650-buck tax. It’d be ridiculous.”