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February 20, 2008

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The Sespe Sun

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Editor

July 29, 2010 

Re: Don Gunderson (July 27, 2010)

       I believe Mr. Gunderson misunderstands the process that is taking place. Here is the information you need to know. Sewer and water rates have to be increased to pay for the bonds and higher operating costs. Street sweeping costs were removed from the General Fund to help balance the budget. If approved by the voters those costs will be added to their trash bill. The rate increases are subject to property owner approval via a ballot known as Proposition 218. The ballots will be mailed to all property owners in the next several weeks. There will be public hearings at the August 24th and September 14th Council meetings. Your protest ballot must be received by the City by 6:30 PM on September 14th.

       I can only speak for myself but in my opinion the fate of these increases lies in the hands of the property owners of Fillmore and how they vote. If the ballot fails then the City will have to reconsider how to pay the water and sewer debt.

       As you can imagine, I am also very unhappy about these increases in water, sewer or street sweeping. But, in the end, this is the budget that was presented to the Council. Many cuts were made and are likely still to come. The Mayor made extensive comments at the budget hearing and I agreed that it was important to make the Proposition 218 process easier for the property owners to participate in the vote. Also, our most costly litigation is the Sales Tax issue which was filed prior to the last election and pursuant to Council decisions made in 2003.

Gayle Washburn

July 30, 2010

Mr. Gunderson,

       After reading your letter of concern, I am wondering where these comments are coming from. The decisions that you oppose are those of past Councils (Hernandez, Cuevas and Conaway).
       Especially since I and so many in the public asked the Council not to spend so much on the Sewer Plant and the financing. True, we had no choice but to comply with Water Board requirements. But we did have a choice on;
   1. Where to locate the plant. Past Councils and staff CHOSE to buy land from the business park developer to anchor and facilitate their development and to help them pay for the levee. We already owned land elsewhere that would have been suitable and could have saved millions in land cost, infrastructure costs and now flood insurance costs.
   2. The City had a CHOICE whether to accept the too high bids. Santa Paula and Piru both chose to re-bid their systems when the costs came in too high. (Piru’s $14,000,000 plant was paid for with $8.5M in grants and $5.5M in a 1% loan. Why didn’t we apply?)
   3. We also CHOSE to use municipal bonds rather than the low cost State Revolving Loans that were recommended in 2004. I am a finance professional and I know how critical it is to get the lowest interest rates possible. That wasn’t done.
       I and others warned the Council that the consequences of these choices would be too much of a burden. Now and for many years it will be. These were CHOICES that were made by previous Councils who CHOSE to ignore their constituents, not the new Council. As a candidate for the Fillmore City Council, I stand firm in my beliefs that when a person is elected to the City Council, it should behoove them to think of the lasting consequences and how these decisions will effect the community as a whole; today and for the future.

Brian Sipes
 

Editor,

July 9, 2010

       I want the citizens of Fillmore, my friends and family to know that  anytime I have something to say in person, or in print, I will always sign it with my full name and my local phone number when needed. Please do not think I am involved with the new group, Reform FUSD.
      A notice from this group was printed in last week’s newspaper and signed with a first name only (Marie) without a local telephone number. I do not know who they are and why they do not have a local phone for organizing, but they do not represent me.
I understand frustrations of parents when the school does not follow what a group of parents wish, and they have every right to run for the Board. Have they ever considered putting in the same amount of time and money into improving each school within the district?
      I served on the Fillmore Unified School Board for over 8 years, and I know you need to be a voting member of that Board to fully understand the complete picture for ALL students in the district. It is usually a very thankless job. It takes lots of time and dedication to wade through the many regulations every district works under and stretch the available money. It is not a simple job.
     My best wishes to the current board members and the effort they have given to the problems this past year. My best wishes to any new board members if they are elected and I hope they quickly have a better understanding of “what  being a board member” really means.
      I do not wish to fuss with anyone via “Letters to the Editor” and I will not lower myself to write again. I will always identify myself in full when I wish to make a statement.

Marie Wren
 

Editor:

July 27, 2010 

The following is an excerpt from the July 22 VC Star article dealing with the City of Fillmore current budget:

“‘It’s been repeatedly said that we’re in tough financial times,’ Mayor Patti Walker said. …”

“Walker said the council needs to raise water and sewage rates in the coming months.

“‘We’re going to be increasing their fees to the parks and in the pools,’ she said.  ‘We’re asking them to start paying for street sweeping.’ “

Quack, quax, tax!

The water and sewer funds are enterprise funds.  Enterprise funds are set up for functions which are supposed to operate like a business.  The accounting method used is more like business accounting than governmental accounting.  They should not be used to create excess funds to “bail out” other budget areas with shortfalls.  An increase in their fees to pay for general fund expenses usually paid from taxes certainly makes excess fees look like a tax.

This would not be the first time this council has ventured into financial areas which have led to litigation.  A tax masquerading as a fee is an easy way to get back into the court room.

Don Gunderson

Fillmore

July 28, 2010                                                                                                                        
       In response to Mr. Gunderson’s letter of July 27, the Council is complying with Prop 218 by taking the increase in water and sewer rates, and the fee for street sweeping, to the property owners by way of a protest ballot. The ballot is to be mailed to property owners and is to be returned to the City no later than September 14. If the number of ballots returned is 51% of the number of ballots mailed, the increase in rates will not occur.
       It was at my request that the protest ballot provide the ability for the citizens to have their voice heard by suggesting to the Council that the Notice include a ballot to be used to cast their vote - including the parcel number and a place for their signature.
       The Water Enterprise Fund currently does not have sufficient income to operate and maintain the water system. The current rate only brings in enough dollars to pay the bond debt.
      We are asking property owners to vote on new sewer fees (to be placed into the Sewer Enterprise Fund) because Prop 218 requires us to do so every five years as the fee has an inflationary clause.
      With respect to the street sweeping, it has historically be paid from Gas Tax dollars which had a negative $20,000 at the end of the last budget cycle. The cost to the community to provide this service is about $75,000. By October, the staff and Council need to cut $275,000 more from the General Fund. If the citizens do not want to pay an additional $1.20 more on their Harrison trash bill to pay for the sweeping, we will need to further trim the budget to cover the sweeping charges.
       This Council is complying with all aspects of CA State law and are asking the property owners to vote on all increases - sewer, water and street sweeping - prior to implementation.

Patti Walker
Mayor
 

Editor,

July 6, 2010

      The City of Fillmore’s 2010-2011 proposed budget recommends that the Fillmore Aquatic Center be closed from October to February and that all fees be raised. Swimming lessons will be raised from $50 to $75.                     
      Please go to the City website to view the proposed budget. Please become informed and ask questions of your Council members. Please attend the July 13^th Council meeting to hear discussion of the proposed budget. 

Regards,                                                                                              

Cindy Blatt                                                                                        Fillmore