Park district ups fees

About 25,000 Camarillo homeowners will pay 92 cents more on their December tax bill so the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District can maintain and improve parks.

The park district's board of directors voted last week to increase a maintenance assessment fee that appears on residents' tax bill the maximum 3 percent, going from $30.88 to $31.80, for single family homes within the district's boundaries.

That means residents will pay 92 cents more on the annual fee or an additional 8 cents a month.

Dan LaBrado, general manager, said the increase is about $24,000 more to the district and will be used to buy needed supplies and equipment for an "aggressive" improvement plan that includes installing picnic shelters and replacing worn out playground equipment at several parks and giving a face-lift to community rooms.

"We want to make sure the public, our residents, can see the improvements. . . . They want to see their dollars at work," LaBrado said.

He added that having more resources available to the district means that more projects can be accomplished.

Voters approved the park district annual assessment fee in 2001, which also requires the district to hold an annual public hearing. The district has scheduled the hearing for 7 p.m., June 6 at the Community Center's Senior Center.

The last time the district raised the tax was in 2006, going from $29.10 to $30.88. The $1.78 increase was the highest the district had ever raised the tax.

In related news, the district plans a grand reopening of the Pleasant Valley Aquatic Center, formerly the Pleasant Valley Pool, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 16.

- Michelle Knight