State's financial impasse means local uncertainty
by Kelly Feser Eells

California could take a lesson from local agencies when it comes to balancing its budget. With the State Assembly still at a voting impasse (marking the 14th time in 25 years that California began the fiscal year, which starts July 1, without a budget), projects like the Loma/Highway 33 traffic signal are on hold indefinitely.
As Caltrans project manager Abdi Saghafi stated, "Once the governor signs the budget," the long-delayed signal will go out to bid. But no one is hazarding a guess as to when that will be.
Unlike Caltrans, the Ojai Valley Sanitary District began its fiscal year, which also begins July 1, on track. "The basic rate -- for sewer service - is unchanged for the eighth year in a row," said John Correa, OVSD general manager. "That's reason to celebrate," he chuckled.
Correa further noted that, while "we considered a rate increase this year," the district was able to use leftover funds collected from rate payers for the Treatment Plant Upgrade Project (completed seven years ago) "as a rate stabilizing" tool.
Sewer service rates, however, seem to be the only constant in what lawmakers statewide are calling a "fiscal nightmare." California currently leads the nation with the biggest budget deficit; at $24 billion dollars, it comprises nearly 60 percent of the country's total budget shortfall.
Some legislators blame Silicon Valley's stock crash and its effect on tax revenue. Republicans blame Gov. Gray Davis for "counting on a bull market to fund a wish list of services." Democrats blame Republican Assembly leaders for "intentionally stalling" passage of the budget "...to make a point in an election year." Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, blames everyone in Sacramento. "Giving money to elected officials," Coupal was quoted as saying, "is equivalent to giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. Everybody knew it (the stock market windfall) was one-time money."
Whatever or whoever is the cause, passing the buck, or lack thereof, is what Sacramento has lately become infamous for. With respect to the Loma Dr. signal "promised by Sept. 2000," Caltrans officials claim their hands are tied, and no one is willing to offer even an approximate project start date. And Mira Monte School students, as well as other area pedestrians, will likely be crossing Hwy 33 on a "temporary" safety crosswalk well into 2003.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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