By Lawrence Paul Stein
How can this person trust the City of Oxnard to expend fund proceeds from a 1 1/2% sales tax increase when they violated that trust from the proceeds of a 1/2% sales tax increase (Measure O)?
We are paying for a $20,000,000 fire station that was to have cost the tax payers $2,000,000 (10 Year Fire Department Plan circa 2005). A developer was going to pay another $2,000,000 for a fire station that was to have cost $4,000,000- no $20,000,000.
Sports Park was not built Campus Park was not built, College was not completed.
25% of Measure O ( 1/2 cent sales tax increase)is going to Public Safety. 50% of the General fund is going to public safety. Proceeds from a property tax goes to public safety, We keep giving public safety more money and public safety services are declining. They get new police cars and the city does not have the funds to fix lawn mowers.
There has been no increase in Code Compliance.
The General Fund has grown from $115,000,000 to over $150,000,000 (plus $13 million Measure O). Services have declined while salaries have increased,
Developers are getting breaks in fees while infrastructure does not get built.
Vote NO on the Sales Tax increase
Let your voices get heard during the budget meetings.
Talk to the management of the City that Cares Less.
If this sales tax is approved and based upon prior history. significant capital improvement will not go to parks, non public safety vehicles, or alley repairs. There will be limited staff increases for non public safety departments. There will be significant pay raises for public safety personnel and large payments to public safety pensions, but not non public safety pensions.
Speak during the public hearing on the budget J3. Speak tomorrow on Housing J4.
Lawrence Paul Stein is an Oxnard Accountant and local activist
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal
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Last night’s meeting video lasts for 2 hours 18 minutes. At least the version that is available at Oxnard.org. And, once again no video markers exist.
The YouTube version lasts for 7 hours and 33 minutes.
Is Oxnard hiding something?
Citizens of Oxnard must decide: more services will be cut without the additional sales tax or maintain services and add more with the additional sales tax.
I am MORE than happy to pay my share to keep this city maintained. TAX ME!
That’s alot of $ going to police and fire departments. Oxnard doesn’t need more police, we need more parks and community centers. Our kids need to get out and away from their devices.
Defund public safety
Aaron Starr is a joke and not part of the solution. How much did his recall initiative cost the city of Oxnard and what did it accomplish?
If you really want change, begin by coming up with real solutions instead of just complaining. Bob L, E Hilton, and Paul Acosta: Where are your solutions? Let’s see your detailed plan for getting the City’s finances back on track? I await your reply.
We got suckered with Measure O
Let’s not make another huge mistake .
Call their bluff !
Have Fire and Police go Ventura County !
Getting rid of bloated management salaries .
Consolidation, not a bad idea.
Totally agree.
I voted for aaron starr