I have trust issues. My therapist and I have been working on them and I thought I had made progress. But, as I sat listening to a presentation on the City of Oxnard's proposed half-percent sales tax increase, I had a relapse. It happened last Thursday when seven top Oxnard officials came to the Ventura County Association of REALTORS to educate us on the proposed tax increase. They were: Edward Sotelo, Oxnard City Manager; Daren Burnham, Assistant City Manager; Grace Hoffman, Deputy City Manager; Martin Erickson, Government Affairs; Haywood Milligan, Oxnard Fire Chief; and John Cromback, Police Chief.
The speakers gave a Powerpoint presentation with each taking turns presenting the slides. We learned that the city had commissioned a survey last October that showed that 70% of Oxnard residents would support a half-percent sales tax increase if it went to improve and enhance vital city services. We were told that Oxnard has had a A+ rating from Standard & Poors since 2003 and the city is very sound financial position and the survey indicated that 57% of Oxnard residents feel the city is well managed financially. It was pointed out that the sales tax in Santa Barbara was 7.75% and in Los Angeles it was 8.25%.
If the tax increase is passed it would fund:
There's something there for everyone. The city estimates the tax would raise $10,000,000 a year to fund these programs. Since this is a general tax, the measure would only have to get a simple majority.
I'll grant you that these valuable services would enhance the quality of life in Oxnard. So, you may ask, why the trust issues? First of all, that 70% of Oxnard residents could possibly be in favor of a tax increase is hard to believe. Our presenters made the point that polling only 400 people may seem like a small number but you can get an accurate reading from a sample that size. I agree. Problem is, we don't know the wording of the questions. Polls are conducted all the time with a specific outcome in mind and the questions are formulated to lead the respondent to favorable response.
Second issue: Oxnard City Manager, Edward Sotelo said many times that they were here only to provide information and were not taking a position in favor of the tax increase nor were they trying to convince us to support it. Really???!!! Seven of the highest ranking officials take time out their busy schedule to just give us a little information. (I see you're starting to have some trust issues, too.) After the meeting I did a little research and learned that the Oxnard City Council had previously approved $150,000 information campaign to educate the citizens of Oxnard on the benefits of the tax increase. That's a lot of money to educate the public for a ballot measure you're not taking a position on. If the tax is approved, it will take $30 million dollars of taxable sales in Oxnard before that sum is recovered.
Third issue: The City is calling it a half-cent increase. It is not. It is a half-percent increase. It may seem like I'm arguing semantics but that language wasn't chosen by accident.
Fourth issue: What the money will be spent on is not clear. The presentation covered a lot of ground but it's unlikely that the money will be allocated evenly across the board. Once this tax is approved, the council can use most of the money for just one of those issues. You might vote for the measure because you'd like to see more police and instead most of the money goes towards a sports park.
Last issue: How long is this tax for? When asked, Sotelo says the ordinance hasn't been written yet and the City is still trying to "find out" what the citizens of Oxnard would prefer.
It may seem like I'm arguing against the tax increase. Not necessarily. I just don't think it's being presented honestly. This is a carefully orchestrated campaign that is being presented as if the City were only responding to Oxnard resident's desires to pay more taxes. Most people can see right though that. Regardless of the possible merits of this tax increase I don't believe it will be successful. The economy is in bad shape, gas prices are soaring and folks are tightening their belts. I'll be surprised if 51% of Oxnard voters support a tax increase much less the 70% the City is counting on.
Like all business people Ventura real estate agents are competitors. We compete for listings and we compete for buyers. But the real estate business is unique in that, even though we may be competitors, we must also work in cooperation with each other to to get those sellers and buyers matched up. It benefits us, and more importantly it benefits our clients.
Last year I was invited to participate in the newly forming Ventura chapter of the CMA Real Estate Networking Group. CMA is a mutual benefit business league founded to provide high level professional real estate service providers an environment to network, exchange business opportunities, build relationships and create an advantage in the market with other CMA members who share common standards of integrity, excellence and accountability. CMA has been in existence for more than seven years in other areas of the county and there are chapters in Camarillo and the Conejo Valley. CMA stands for "Complete Marketing Advantage." We have members from many different Ventura real estate companies working together. Our membership also includes many other real estate professionals; Escrow Officers, Title Insurance Representatives, Termite Companies, Insurance Agents, Natural Hazards Disclosure Companies, etc.
With our combined resources we have been able to achieve some real benefits for our members and their clients. One example is the ability to take out ads using joint resources to promote ourselves and our listings. Recently we started running this full page ad in Ventana Magazine each month. We also jointly promote our Broker Caravans of new listings in a unique fashion that guarantees more agents through our client's homes. (That's a topic for a whole article in itself!)
There is also a huge advantage to surrounding one's self with other positive, hardworking, and ethical people.
Our current REALTOR members include:
Fernie Campos-Coldell Banker
Pearl Reyes-Coldwell Banker
Julie Taylor-Coldwell Banker
Joe Virnig-RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
Corina and Don Thoresen-Troop Real Estate
Cheryle Estes-Troop Real Estate
Brooke Smith-Coldwell Banker
Barbara Ashby-The Real Estate Company
Art Perez-Troop Real Estate
Veronica Licea-Coldwell Banker
Karen Campbell-Ventura Property Shoppe
Linda Ward-The Real Estate Company
Monica Hurtado-Select Properties
Lauren Lee Henry-RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
Monique Webster-RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS
Lei Eberhardt-Coldwell Banker
Julie Zermeno-ERA Cusick Realty
Ellen Halverson-Coldwell Banker
Carolyn Herrera-Prudential
Our Affiliate members include:
Frank Acosta-StateFarm Insurance
Bob Curtis-Property ID
Joe Dotzler-United Title Company
Tress Golden-Aliso Escrow
Cheryle Hall-Aliso Escrow
Linda Hall-GMAC Mortgage
Pat O'Dell-BPC Pest Control
Vanessa Rice-Aliso Escrow
Tamara Rossie-First Amercian Home Buyers Warranty
Vicki Warren-BPC Pest Control
Rhonda Wharton-Aliso Escrow.
If you are a real estate professional in Ventura and are interested in getting by with "a little help from your friends", contact one of the members of our group. Any of us would be happy to tell you more. And if any of you in the ActiveRain Community want to know more so you can start your own group, just contact me.
Dayspring Anglican Church, (805)523-0650
1002 Chambersburg Road, Fillmore California 93015
Saint George's Anglican Church, (805)642-9697
Fillmore California 93015
Assembly of God, (805)524-2194
703 Central Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
First Baptist Church of Filmore, (805)524-3855
1057 1st Street, Fillmore California 93015
Iglesia Bautista De Libre Albed, (805)524-0494
961-3 D, Fillmore California 93015
Fillmore Bible Church, (805)524-3344
461 Central Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
Heritage Valley Bible Church
808 River Street, Fillmore California 93015
Saint Francis of Assisi Church, (805)524-1306
1048 West Ventura Street, Fillmore California 93015
Church of Christ, (805)524-2580
219 Mountain View Street, Fillmore California 93015
First Church of God, (805)524-0646
902 Blaine Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
Faith Community Church, (805)524-5564
355 D Street, Fillmore California 93015
Trinity Episcopal Church, (805)524-1910
600 Saratoga Street, Fillmore California 93015
Foursquare Church, (805)524-0859
324 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
Wayfarers Chapel-Lutheran Church, (805)524-2818
461-3 D, Fillmore California 93015
Bardsdale United Methodist Church, (805)524-2070
1498 Bardsdale Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
United Methodist Church, (805)524-3844
421 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
Church of The Nazarene, (805)524-2063
422 Central Avenue, Fillmore California 93015
Calvary Chapel, (805)524-9346
322 Condor Court, Fillmore California 93015
Calvary Fellowship of Fillmore, (805)524-9346
Po Box 326, Fillmore California 93016
Christian Praise Assembly, (805)524-0286
337 Main Street, Fillmore California 93015
Dial-A-Prayer, (805)524-1461
808 River Street, Fillmore California 93015
The Servants & Handmaids, (805)524-5890
411 First Street, Fillmore California 93015
Fillmore Church of Religous Science
808 River Street, Fillmore, California 93015
Finding a home is just part of the picture when you move to a new community. I kept this in mind when I put together my Free Fillmore Relocation Package. It is full of information on schools, shopping, communities, recreation...what you need to know about your new home.
Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com today to get your Free Relocation Package.
Asamblea Apostolica, (805)525-1499
116 Davis Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Latin American Assembly of God, (805)525-5388
412 North 12th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Calvary Baptist Church, (805)525-1656
14840 West Telegraph Road, Santa Paula California 93060
First Primitive Baptist Church, (805)525-2979
Santa Paula California 93060
First Southern Baptist Church, (805)525-4436
217 North 10th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Heritage Valley Christian Fellowship, (805)525-2814
241 North Mill Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Free Will Baptist Church, (805)525-4060
406 Acacia Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Westside Baptist Church, (805)525-2420
673 West Santa Paula, Santa Paula California 93060
Our Lady of Guadalupe, (805)525-3716
427 North Oak Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Saint Sebastian Church, (805)525-2149
235 North 9th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
First Christian Church, (805)525-2482
829 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula California 93060
First Church of Christ Scientist, (805)525-4990
600 East Pleasant Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Church of Christ, (805)525-3645
276 West Santa Paula Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Church of Christ of Buenaventura, (805)525-6843
15500 West Telegraph Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Abundant Life Pentecostal Church of God, (805)525-8997
503 Ojai Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Chapel of Praise Church of God, (805)525-8149
221 North 9th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, (805)525-3811
117 North 7th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
New Harvest Christian Fellowship, (805)933-1875
123 South Oak Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Temple Esperanza Foursquare Church, (805)525-9802
141 Davis Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Valley Community Foursquare,(805)525-4273
611 East Main Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Kingdom Hall, (805)525-8073
837 East Ventura Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (805)525-4619
604 Ojai Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, (805)525-1326
117 North Seventh Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Trinity Lutheran Church, (805)525-5911
505 West Harvard Boulevard, Santa Paula California 93060
First Methodist Church, (805)525-2214
133 North Mill Street, Santa Paula California 93060
United Methodist Church, (805)525-7268
1029 East Santa Paula, Santa Paula California 93060
Church of The Nazarene, (805)525-7918
3452 Ojai Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Adult Faith Development, (805)525-3201
235 North 9th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Calvary Chapel of Santa Paula, (805)525-2008
3452 Ojai Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Citrus Valley Christian Center, (805)525-2910
203 South 8th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Love International Church, (805)647-5463
1620 Mesa Verde Ave # A, Santa Paula California 93060
Missionaries of Saint Dominic, (805)525-9207
432 North Oak Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Victory Life Ministries, (805)525-2921
107 South 8th Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Pentecostal Church of God, (805)525-8997
501 Ojai Road, Santa Paula California 93060
Pentecostal Holiness Church, (805)525-8174
208 South Mill Street, Santa Paula California 93060
United Pentecostal Church, (805)525-8453
1315 East Orchard, Santa Paula California 93060
Presbyterian Church, (805)525-6654
121 Davis Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Seventh-Day Adventist Church, (805)525-2416
316 East Ventura Street, Santa Paula California 93060
Finding a home is just part of the picture when you move to a new community. I kept this in mind when I put together my Free Santa Paula Relocation Package. It is full of information on schools, shopping, communities, recreation...what you need to know about your new home.
Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com today to get your Free Relocation Package.
B'nai Moshiach Apostolic Church, (805)240-1684
327 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033
Assembly of God Church, (805)485-3167
1076 East Stroube Street, Oxnard California 93030
Calvary Baptist Church, (805)488-6982
950 East Pleasant Valley, Oxnard California 93033
First Baptist Church, (805)483-2205
936 West Fifth Street, Oxnard California 93030
First Baptist Church of El Rio, (805)485-1316
2857 Cortez Street, Oxnard California 93030
Free Will Baptist Church, (805)487-1717
831 West 7th Street, Oxnard California 93030
Good Shepherd Baptist Church, (805)486-3618
808 East 1st Street, Oxnard California 93030
Korean Baptist Church, (805)486-5700
241 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033
Shiloh Baptist Church, (805)483-4877
327 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033
Saint Paul Baptist Church, (805)487-2015
1777 Statham Blvd., Oxnard California 93030
Trinity Baptist Church, (805)483-2819
315 North Anita, Oxnard California 93030
Valley Baptist Church, (805)488-4511
444 East Pleasant Valley, Oxnard California 93033
Saint Anthony Church, (805)486-7301
2635 Maywood Way, Oxnard California 93033
Santa Clara Church, (805)487-3891
323 South E Street, Oxnard California 93030
Chinese Christian Church, (805)486-3210
840 South G Street, Oxnard California 93030
Oxnard Christian Church, (805)483-5635
601 South D Street, Oxnard California 93030
Church of Christian Scientist, (805)483-3041
721 South A Street, Oxnard California 93030
Northside Church of Christ, (805)485-4443
880 East Collins Street, Oxnard California 93030
Oxnard Church of Christ, (805)483-7935
1815 San Marino Street, Oxnard California 93033
Park Avenue Church of Christ, (805)486-7667
630 South A Street, Oxnard California 93030
All Nations Church, 866-510-8023
1401 West Gonzales Road, Oxnard California 93030
Tried Stone Church of God, (805)487-1156
1350 East Channel Islands, Oxnard California 93033
Faith Community Church, (805)486-2676
723 South D Street, Oxnard California 93030
Nyeland Community Church, (805)485-7072
3326 Nyland Avenue, Oxnard California 93030
All Saints Episcopal Church, (805)483-2347
144 South C Street, Oxnard California 93030
New Life Communty Church, (805)983-1890, Fax (805)983-8190
2101 West Vineyard Avenue Oxnard California 93030
Mailing Address: 2073 North Oxnard Boulevard,
Suite 163, Oxnard California 93030
Living Gospel Church, (805)486-9491
151 South Mckinley Avenue, Oxnard California 93030
Kingdom Hall, (805)485-6408
601 East Bard Road, Oxnard California 93033
Lutheran Church Our Redeemer, (805)983-0612
721 Doris Avenue, Oxnard California 93030
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, (805)486-5383
905 Redwood Street, Oxnard California 93033
Bethel Ame Church, (805)486-6477
855 South F Street, Oxnard California 93030
Church of The Nazarene, (805)483-7046
1630 Saviers Road, Oxnard California 93033
Church At The Crossroads, (805)487-5319
241 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033
Church For The Nations, (805)486-6222
270 West 5th Street, Oxnard California 93030
El Rio Spanish Church, (805)485-3819
2670 Alvarado Street, Oxnard California 93030
Garden City Acres Church, (805)986-2247
412 Howell Road, Oxnard California 93033
Grace Bible Church, (805)483-2205
936 West 5th Street, Oxnard California 93030
Iglesia Del Dios Vivo La Luz Del Mundo, (805)486-5559
400 North Hayes Avenue, Oxnard California 93030
Saint Herman Orthodox Church, (805)486-5793
142 West Wooley Road, Oxnard California 93030
United Pentecostal Church, (805)488-7215
700 East Pleasant Valley, Oxnard California 93033
First Presbyterian Church, (805)983-0204
850 Ivywood Drive, Oxnard California 93030
Korean Presbyterian Church, (805)483-7009
737 West 6th Street, Oxnard California 93030
Seventh-Day Adventist Church, (805)486-7918
211 West Birch, Oxnard California 93033
El Rio Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church, (805)485-3819
2670 Alvarado Street, Oxnard, California 93036
Finding a home is just part of the picture when you move to a new community. I kept this in mind when I put together my Free Oxnard Relocation Package. It is full of information on schools, shopping, communities, recreation...what you need to know about your new home.
Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com today to get your Free Relocation Package.
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