VCTA Board officers

On March 1st, the Oxnard City Council approved a resolution seeking a “judicial validation” as Plaintiff in Ventura County Superior Court to borrow up to $330 million in pension obligation bonds that mature in 30 years. 

In response, on May 20th, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Ventura County Taxpayers Association and Aaron Starr joined as Defendants in opposition to the City of Oxnard.  

County of Ventura Project Labor Agreement (PLA)  

Ventura County Taxpayers Association voiced opposition to the Board of Supervisors proposed Project Labor Agreement touted by trade unions, on county projects because it would likely increase taxpayer costs more than $75 million over the next five years.  

VCTA worked with local contractor groups, county staff and members of the Board to offer a better policy that would require all county projects be bid twice, first as a PLA (union) and then as a non-PLA (non-union). Doing so would allow the Board to be aware of cost differentials if any before deciding which bid to accept.  

The Board of Supervisors accepted our recommendation and voted to require future public construction projects be bid both ways, allowing fair and open access to foster robust competition, reduce costs and increase public value that favors taxpayers.  

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Protecting Proposition 13 and 218 limitation on tax increases 

Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) addressed the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and asked that it not sup- port a “citizens group” request to support a one-half percent special purpose sales tax initiative the group hoped to place on the November 2022 ballot. 

The “citizens group” was attempting to exploit a recent court decision that said a simple majority is all that is needed to pass multi-billion dol- lar special purpose spending initiative because “citizens have the con- stitution right to tax themselves”. 

VCTA and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association assert that under Proposition 13 and 218 this special purpose tax requires a two-thirds voter approval. Thus, litigation can be expected if the “citizens group” planned tax initiative is placed on the ballot and receives more than a simple majority but less than two-thirds voter approval. 

Ventura County Transportation Commission agreed with VCTA and turned down the request to support the special purpose tax initiative and in April 2022 the “citizens group” announced it had abandoned plans to place the sales tax on the November 2022 ballot.

Ventura County Medical Center Public Hospital Inefficiencies:   

Ventura County Taxpayers Association voiced concern at Board of Supervisor meetings, bringing to light a lack of financial reporting and failures in internal controls at the $500 million publicly run hospital that routinely cost local taxpayers tens of millions in operating losses every year.  

For over a year, VCTA met with County CEO, CFO the Auditor-Controller and members of the BOS to discuss ways to resolve these ongoing issues. The County agreed the hospital would restructure its management, begin monthly reporting of financial results, work toward operating efficiencies and submit to an audit of internal controls.  

Today, a new management team is in-place, the hospital’s operating losses have been reduced, allowing it to “repay” taxpayers tens of millions to the General Fund and the internal control audit was completed with all deficiencies corrected.  

Ongoing investigation of serious problems at Ventura County Medical Center including lack of financial oversight, excessive management turnover and possible hidden clinic losses. For months the County rejected VCTA call for a complete audit of HCA arguing it wasn’t necessary. After learning about some of VCTA preliminary findings the County reversed position and is now prepared to spend $100,000 on an audit.   

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VCTA filed an Amicus Brief in support of the State of California in the pension reform case of Cal Fire v. CalPERS.  The brief articulates the right of the legislature to adjust future pension benefits and the grave threat to state and local economies posed by increasing pension contribution requirements and the ever increasing balance of unfunded liabilities.  The brief argues against the judicially created “California Rule” that, as applied, requires that any reduction in pension benefits be offset by a different bur comparable benefit.

Offered testimony to the State Water Resources Control board in support of the California WaterFix, the plan to update the state’s aging water infrastructure. Currently, 75% of Ventura County’s population relies heavily on our state’s antiquated water distribution system, and this percentage could actually increase to virtually 100% as adjacent communities struggling with extreme drought conditions, including the cities of Ventura and Ojai, may take their state water allocations for the first time in history.  As a state we can and must do better to stabilize this critical water supply.

Raised concerns with Ventura City Council’s decision to adopt a new tiered water rate structure.  The rates failed to meet criteria set out in a successful San Juan Capistrano legal challenge.  The court said Capistrano failed to show that its rates were tied to the actual cost of service.  Proposition 218 says agencies cannot charge more than the “cost of the service” provided. 

AARP highlights outrageous Ventura County Pension System from story in LA Times prompted by VCTA and its efforts to bring attention to this unjustified and shameful burden on taxpayers.

Addressed Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Spending. Raised public awareness of out of control spending increases for salaries and pensions that outstripped revenue and in November, Voters rejected the board president, re-electing new members committed to fiscal responsibility. ​ 

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Opposed Lifetime Healthcare for Ojai City Council and successfully created pressure for City Council members to take up the issue of continuing to offer lifetime healthcare when the city is ailing financially – a tremendous perk for part time employees.