Community Newspaper Expands

The inaugural issue of Community Common Sense became available in Mission Viejo last week. The monthly newsletter, which began in San Juan Capistrano several years ago, has expanded into Mission Viejo. Editorial contributors say Mission Viejo shares a great deal more with SJC than a city boundary line, as both cities face many of the same problems.

The front-page article by Mission Viejo resident Steve Magdziak, http://www.ccsense.com/ , suggests the city should consider returning a budget surplus to taxpayers by paying for an essential service. He provides an example, giving residents a break on their trash collection bill. In a survey of council members, Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht agrees, saying, “I love the idea of giving the taxpayers a holiday from paying their trash bill. This is a great way to share the benefits of a ‘surplus’ with the taxpayers, who are the stakeholders.”

Councilman Dave Leckness responded, “In theory I welcome the idea of giving tax payers refunds with the city’s year-End surpluses. Although in reality, there are numerous laws that tie our hands and prohibit this type of refund. I do welcome creative solutions, because that’s what [sic] when the real creative juices start to flow.”

Why would anyone think the city cannot legally pay for a public service or use a "surplus" to pay for it? Public service is supposed to be the reason taxes are collected. Here’s a link to an analysis by the California Attorney General: http://oag.ca.gov/ethics/accessible/misuse

An underlying problem is the council majority’s refusal to use taxes appropriately in the first place. Furthermore, the city refuses to disclose how much of its $60-million annual budget it uses on non-essential expenses. More than six months ago, Councilwomen Cathy Schlicht and Rhonda Reardon asked for figures on programs, festivals, staff parties and other fluff – nonessential services – which the city staff won’t release.

The council is supposed to direct the city staff, but the council majority instead follows staff recommendations. The objective of City Manager Dennis Wilberg is apparently to grow his empire, raise employees’ pay and endow employees with job security. He’s so good at it the city now has 275 employees. By comparison, Rancho Santa Margarita – a contract city with half the population of Mission Viejo – has 40 employees.

Mission Viejo can afford to have nice buildings, roads and landscaping, but it continues to take on new projects while failing to maintain the old. It recently blew $1.3 million (and counting) on a dog park, $5 million on a tennis resort upgrade and $400,000 to decorate a story room in the library. As a parallel example, it plants thousands of trees while mature trees fall over. Mission Viejo residents who reside in the Capo school district got a double dose from CUSD officials. School buildings fell into disrepair because the district spent money like drunken sailors. Seven trustees built an unnecessary $50-million administration building, and no one could stop them.

Along with the money, those CUSD trustees who approved the building are gone, and the district is $50 million in the red. The same thing is happening with the city of Mission Viejo. Community Common Sense is shining a light, and not a moment too soon.