WVCBA takes positions on local and state ballot measures

At its September meeting, the West Ventura County Business Alliance Board of Directors voted on five measures that will be on the November 5 election ballot. One of the measures impacts local residents in the Oxnard Union High School District; the other four measures will appear on all ballots for residents of the State of California.

Following the recommendation from WVCBA’s Business Advocacy Committee (BAC), the WVCBA Board voted to support Oxnard Union High School District Bond Measure E.  The BAC received a presentation about the bond measure in August from OUHSD Superintendent Tom McCoy. The Board deliberated and voted on each of the four state propositions it took positions on.

SUPPORT

• Local Ballot Measure E: Authorizes $285 million dollars to continue the construction, modernization and repair of Oxnard Union High School District facilities. 
• California State Proposition 34: Requires some healthcare providers to spend almost all revenues from a federal prescription drug program on patient care.
• California State Proposition 36: Increases penalties for certain drug and theft crimes, allowing for felony charges under specific conditions and increasing sentences for other related crimes.

OPPOSE

• California State Proposition 32: Proposes to increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour.
• California State Proposition 33: Seeks to repeal a state law preventing cities and counties from implementing rent control on properties built after 1995, allowing for broader rent control measures.

As announced in August, the WVCBA Board voted on four local measures that impact residents of Oxnard’s Riverpark neighborhood. All four initiatives focus on special Mello-Roos taxes Riverpark residential and commercial property owners pay to fund maintenance of parks, landscaping and sports fields, flood and storm protection, school grounds upkeep, and police protection. The tax district – Community Facilities District No. 5 – was established in 2005 as Riverpark was being developed.

• SUPPORT: Measure I would keep the tax in place with no changes. It is sponsored by the City of Oxnard with unanimous support of City Council.
• OPPOSE: Measure J would eliminate the special tax completely.
• OPPOSE: Measure K would reduce the maximum special tax by about half.
• OPPOSE: Measure L would place limits how the special tax is used and only fund city services above and beyond standard levels paid for by residents in other communities.

​WVCBA advocates on behalf of businesses at all levels of government.​ We encourage every eligible voter to ensure they are registered to vote by October 21 in order to participate in the November 5 election. Further, WVCBA hopes voters do their due diligence and research the candidates and issues prior to heading to the polls. ​