That Giant Sucking Sound coming from the South

Leon Worden correctly emphasized in his column on Sunday how much money the County of Los Angeles takes from the Santa Clarita Valley and doesn’t give back:

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Eleven million dollars.

By Los Angeles County’s own admission, that’s how much “extra” tax money the residents and businesses of West Ranch, Castaic and Tesoro del Valle are sending to downtown Los Angeles that isn’t coming back to them in the form of services.

That’s not how much money they’re taxed. It’s how much more they’re taxed every year than they are getting back.

Again by the county’s own admission, the county spent just $22 million on services to West Ranch, Castaic and Tesoro – over the past two years combined.

Give back the $11 million “excess” that West Ranch and Tesoro are paying for services, and the figure would be $22 million per year.

Meanwhile, as Worden points out, the City’s nearly $200 million budget is spent entirely within this valley.

Seen in this light, a vote for annexation into the City of Santa Clarita is a vote for fiscal conservatism and sanity. And that’s before residents themselves save $93 a year in reduced taxes and fees.

So what do the County apologists have to say about this? Nothing really. Dave Bossert only complains that the City has been disrespectful to the West side (aka him). Sure he mentions new parks and tennis courts, but where’s the balance sheet?

Show me the money Dave!

Bossert also complains that City leadership is rude and has been disrespectful to West siders in the past:

Essentially, City leaders have done as much damage to prevent many unincorporated residents from ever wanting to annex into the City of Santa Clarita. Just look at the lack of respect Councilman Ferry has shown consistently towards the unincorporated west side communities.

Ferry has shouted at and been completely disrespectful to anyone that questions the City’s motives. All you need to do is watch this video, Furious Frank, of Ferry in action at the monthly City Council meetings. Is this who you want representing your interests? No, I actually want a reasonable representative that is thoughtful, intelligent and respectful.

Ferry is part of what many believe is a dysfunctional, self-serving City government. Is that the type of local government that we should be engaging? I don’t think so; we should have a government that will listen to residents respectfully and engage in a positive and constructive dialogue that allows for creative solutions to the issues at hand.

Not a raving lunatic like Ferry flailing his arms and screaming about brains and machines!

I’m no fan of Frank Ferry but at least he’s our Mayor. We elect him and we can boot him out of office. In comparsion, Bossert and people on the west side are for all practical purposes powerless in terms of County representation. They are but a tiny community in a district with 2 million constituents. Taken by itself, the 5th District would be one of the largest cities in the country in terms of population, and Dave Bossert wants west siders to continue to be represented by only one person.

As for “a self-serving City government,” isn’t that exactly what we want? A City that looks out for its interests, competes with other cities and entities for business and dollars, and promotes itself aggressively? Guilty as charged and proud of it Dave.

Next week west siders should vote to join the City of Santa Clarita. It’s the only reasonable choice.

Comments (12)

Berta González-HarperOctober 27, 2009 at 9:53 am

I think our City like any other has supporters and detractors. I also beleive those of us who live within the current City boundaries have the ability to change elected officials if we don’t like what they are doing. I have no choice on who serves as Supervisor since there really has not been a viable opposing candidate in many years. I have no particular problem with Mike Antonovich but find it very difficult and inconvenient to attend County Board of Supervisor meetings. In Santa Clarita I can complain all I want to in person, via email, telephone etc. I also see various City folks at different events around town whereas I have never run into Mr. Antonovich who lives elsewhere. I think being part of the City, warts and all, is far better than simply being part of a much larger supervisorial district. I disagree with those of you who keep insisting the City will cherry pick areas on the westside. We have to be careful to not just take on more residential without commercial areas too. Otherwise, the City takes on more liabilities without the tax base to fund those things.

Timothy MyersOctober 27, 2009 at 10:50 am

Dave Bossert does have one valid point. The City could cherry pick the “nicest” areas that would require the least services and generate the most tax revenue while leaving the “slums” to the County. Would the City annex Val Verde? I doubt it very much.

mikeOctober 27, 2009 at 10:53 am

But what if the city didn’t? If Val Verde’s services aren’t related to its tax revenue what would change? It would be in the same wilderness that Dave thinks it should be in the first place – unincorporated county territory.

spineflower2October 27, 2009 at 11:07 am

Tim, you hit the nail on the head. The City wants to cherry-pick. It does not want Val Verde or the rest of Castaic. There is no current or envisioned proposal to annex all of the west side. Oh, and Jeff, that #11M would stay right here if we incorporated a west side city (Westaic, anyone?), just the same as if we annexed. And it won’t take the Ferry-esque $100K to run for a west side city council seat.

JeffOctober 27, 2009 at 11:30 am

I’m surprised no one has objected to my use of Saturn Eating His Young by Goya.

David GaunyOctober 27, 2009 at 12:48 pm

jeff says: “I’m surprised no one has objected to my use of Saturn Eating His Young by Goya.” what do you mean? i thought this was mayor ferry responding to one of his constituents at a council meeting. his representation is not one iota better than what the westside gets from county – if anything, it’s worse.

mikeOctober 27, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Ferry is one of five, and we get to kick him out next year. That’s why cityhood is better.

Timothy MyersOctober 27, 2009 at 1:29 pm

spineflower2 Under the current rules regarding incorporating a new city Westaic would have to agree to a substantial “alimony” payment in practical perpetuity, the purpose of which is make them so broke from the get go that no one would ever move the incorporation forward. In an annexation the rules are not so punitive. We also know that it takes 23 votes to get elected to something in Stevenson Ranch, so you could pay your close friends $100 each and it would be a lot cheaper than an actual campaign.

spineflower2October 27, 2009 at 2:06 pm

“I’m no fan of Frank Ferry but at least he’s our Mayor. We elect him and we can boot him out of office.” Sure, all it takes is $100K. He spent darn near that last time.

spineflower2October 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Tim, the alimony was taken into account in the IFA, and it still paid back to incorporate. The alimony amount is negotiable, and the County may well negotiate with a new City more generously than it does to a City that has been on less than amicable terms…

Timothy MyersOctober 27, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Spineflower2 “The alimony amount is negotiable, and the County may well negotiate with a new City more generously than it does to a City that has been on less than amicable terms…” And they’ll respect you in the morning too!!!

NickelDimeOctober 27, 2009 at 4:45 pm

Westside … what a joke. There’s this persistent attitude of “we’re better, we’re not THEM.” How many times have I heard “no, I’m not in Santa Clarita — I’m in Stevenson Ranch.” Give it a rest. Keep your Juicy jumpsuits and tiny dogs with sweaters. Your leased BMWs and outrageous mortgage payments. Fine, stay LA county’s bitch. They’re sucking you dry, and I’m sure are the butt of most jokes after the mics go off.

Berta González-HarperOctober 27, 2009 at 9:53 am
I think our City like any other has supporters and detractors. I also beleive those of us who live within the current City boundaries have the ability to change elected officials if we don’t like what they are doing. I have no choice on who serves as Supervisor since there really has not been a viable opposing candidate in many years. I have no particular problem with Mike Antonovich but find it very difficult and inconvenient to attend County Board of Supervisor meetings. In Santa Clarita I can complain all I want to in person, via email, telephone etc. I also see various City folks at different events around town whereas I have never run into Mr. Antonovich who lives elsewhere. I think being part of the City, warts and all, is far better than simply being part of a much larger supervisorial district. I disagree with those of you who keep insisting the City will cherry pick areas on the westside. We have to be careful to not just take on more residential without commercial areas too. Otherwise, the City takes on more liabilities without the tax base to fund those things.
Timothy MyersOctober 27, 2009 at 10:50 am
Dave Bossert does have one valid point. The City could cherry pick the “nicest” areas that would require the least services and generate the most tax revenue while leaving the “slums” to the County. Would the City annex Val Verde? I doubt it very much.
mikeOctober 27, 2009 at 10:53 am
But what if the city didn’t? If Val Verde’s services aren’t related to its tax revenue what would change? It would be in the same wilderness that Dave thinks it should be in the first place – unincorporated county territory.
spineflower2October 27, 2009 at 11:07 am
Tim, you hit the nail on the head. The City wants to cherry-pick. It does not want Val Verde or the rest of Castaic. There is no current or envisioned proposal to annex all of the west side. Oh, and Jeff, that #11M would stay right here if we incorporated a west side city (Westaic, anyone?), just the same as if we annexed. And it won’t take the Ferry-esque $100K to run for a west side city council seat.
JeffOctober 27, 2009 at 11:30 am
I’m surprised no one has objected to my use of Saturn Eating His Young by Goya.
David GaunyOctober 27, 2009 at 12:48 pm
jeff says: “I’m surprised no one has objected to my use of Saturn Eating His Young by Goya.” what do you mean? i thought this was mayor ferry responding to one of his constituents at a council meeting. his representation is not one iota better than what the westside gets from county – if anything, it’s worse.
mikeOctober 27, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Ferry is one of five, and we get to kick him out next year. That’s why cityhood is better.
Timothy MyersOctober 27, 2009 at 1:29 pm
spineflower2 Under the current rules regarding incorporating a new city Westaic would have to agree to a substantial “alimony” payment in practical perpetuity, the purpose of which is make them so broke from the get go that no one would ever move the incorporation forward. In an annexation the rules are not so punitive. We also know that it takes 23 votes to get elected to something in Stevenson Ranch, so you could pay your close friends $100 each and it would be a lot cheaper than an actual campaign.
spineflower2October 27, 2009 at 2:06 pm
“I’m no fan of Frank Ferry but at least he’s our Mayor. We elect him and we can boot him out of office.” Sure, all it takes is $100K. He spent darn near that last time.
spineflower2October 27, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Tim, the alimony was taken into account in the IFA, and it still paid back to incorporate. The alimony amount is negotiable, and the County may well negotiate with a new City more generously than it does to a City that has been on less than amicable terms…
Timothy MyersOctober 27, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Spineflower2 “The alimony amount is negotiable, and the County may well negotiate with a new City more generously than it does to a City that has been on less than amicable terms…” And they’ll respect you in the morning too!!!
NickelDimeOctober 27, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Westside … what a joke. There’s this persistent attitude of “we’re better, we’re not THEM.” How many times have I heard “no, I’m not in Santa Clarita — I’m in Stevenson Ranch.” Give it a rest. Keep your Juicy jumpsuits and tiny dogs with sweaters. Your leased BMWs and outrageous mortgage payments. Fine, stay LA county’s bitch. They’re sucking you dry, and I’m sure are the butt of most jokes after the mics go off.