The History of our CSD
How did this CSD happen?
By Ed Berger - Fall 2009
(copied from "The Canyon")
Bell Canyon lies at the far eastern boundary of Ventura County and is separated by both distance and geographical accessibility from the main portion of the County. In the early 80's the Canyon had begun to slowly fill with residents who found themselves unable to readily use Ventura County parks and other recreational facilities.
So, in 1984, a group of interested Canyon residents began to pursue the possibility of establishing what is known as a Community Service District (CSD). This required application to an organization called LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission), which monitors sharing of governmental services among cities and counties. The first necessary step was a vote by residents confirming that they were interested in having such a District. The goal was to have a small portion of property taxes rebated to Bell Canyon and to use those funds for the benefit of all community residents for services such as enhanced police and fire protection, local recreational activities, sewage disposal and rubbish collection.
Establishment of a CSD meant that the county to which property taxes were paid agreed to share a small portion of tax receipts with a local agency (in this case the Bell Canyon CSD). Its purpose was to compensate the area for services that the county was unable to provide by reason of distance, lack of facility etc.
Early organizational meetings were held and in July of 1984 the inaugural meeting of the official Bell Canyon Services was held. The Ventura County Clerk, Richard Dean, administered the Oath of Office to the Board Officers: Bud Toye, Ron Spiller and Otto Buss in their respective offices as President, Vice President and Treasurer. This first five-member board was completed with two additional residents, Arch McGregor and Bob Connelly.
In March of 1985 initial funding was a gift from the Simi Parks and Recreation Department of $10,000; a much-needed infusion of cash to carry out all the requirements to legally set up such an organization. It was necessary to wait for a full fiscal tax year in order for the County to calculate and begin distribution of the tax rebate. And, in 1986 the initial allocation of property tax rebate of a little move $56,000 was received by the CSD.
The Bell Canyon Community Services District celebrates its 25th year in 2009. So what did those early Board members accomplish then and what do present Board members continually strive to accomplish? Residents are the recipients of a host of services that are not always attributed to the CSD. From the beginning, the focus has been on enhanced protection for residents. Los Angeles Fire Department through a contact with the CSD and in cooperation with Ventura County provides first response to fire and shortened paramedic emergency response time. We have Bell Creek Park, and all its facilities – another park along the edge of the canyon is in progress. CSD supports the emergency team, children’s activities, additional traffic monitoring, and last, but by far not the least in financial costs – your rubbish pick-up each week.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those early far-sighted residents who saw a need, and to those who now and along the way have served as members of the Bell Canyon Community Services District.
First CSD Election Results
By Bud Toye - June 1984
342 TO 7 FOR CSD
By an overwhelming margin of 342 to 7, Bell Canyon residents went to the polls on June 5th and approved the formation of a new Community Services District which will receive tax revenue heretofore allocated to Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation. The funds, which will be available in 1985, represent about 7% of the property taxes paid in Bell Canyon. The figure is presently almost $100,000.00 and will increase annually.
With 98% voting yes, it was a resounding mandate that Bell Canyon residents want something for their money, and a voice in how locally generated tax revenue is spent.
The effort to separate from Rancho Simi began nearly ten years ago when Arch McGregor was the Bell Canyon Association president. At the time, there was an official BCA committee known appropriately as the "Detachment Committee". Our community's modest political clout made progress frustrating, but as we grew, so did our needs, and so did the amount we contributed to an agency from which we could not benefit. County officials recognized this inequity and afforded Bell Canyon's voters the opportunity to initiate a change.
Special thanks are in order to our County Supervisor James Dougherty, and to LAFCO Executive Officer Robert Braitman. Without their leadership and support, this opportunity could not have come about.
DIRECTORS ELECTED
Otto Buss 311
Bob Connelly 304
Arch McGregor 309
Ron Spiller 308
Bud Toye 315