Is Health District Doing Its Job?

On July 23, The Times ran a story regarding the Camarillo Health Care District. That story has generated a number of phone calls and general interest. First, let me make it clear that I have no business or personal relationship with the Camarillo Health Care District or its personnel. The Alliance of Taxpayers has reviewed the operation of several special districts as well as the county, cities and school districts over the past four years.

After reviewing the district’s budget, board of directors’ minutes for the past year and their checkbook register, we came to the conclusion that the district has outlived its original purpose, which was to build and maintain a hospital in Camarillo.

Further, because the district bleeds a million dollars a year of property taxes from the county, the services provided do not justify the cost.

Let me pose a few questions to the residents of Camarillo:

Would the residents prefer that the $1 million they contribute to the district be spent on services such as the library system?

If the services provided by the Camarillo Health Care District are so essential, why are similar services not provided in the other cities around the county?

How can the district justify paying its director $84,000 when only four years ago she was hired at a salary of $40,000? How does her assistant rate $52,000 for a four-day work week?

Do the taxpayers of Camarillo know the district spent $300,000 of their tax dollars fighting the acquisition of the Pleasant Valley Hospital by St. John’s Hospital?

How can the district, with a million dollars in reserve, justify sending a solicitation letter to all Camarillo residents requesting donations to the district? That letter read, “Due to reductions in federal, state and county funding for health care related services, many more families are having to turn to their local communities for support.” We ask, what funding has been reduced? Surely not the district’s, as it comes from property taxes.

Let’s look at a partial list of the health care programs they provide:

* Hypnotherapy, a Holistic Approach to Modern Problems

* Holistic Approach to the Food You Eat

* Thinking of Divorce?

* The Ins and Outs of Microwave Cooking

* Learn to Read Those Labels

* Kids in the Kitchen: Let’s Do Lunch.

There are many more, but we need not belabor the issue. Are these really health-related programs or are they established to justify the existence of the district?

Do these programs justify a staff of 16 full-time and 15 part-time employees? Do they justify a million-dollar drain on the property tax revenues? We don’t think so.

We are calling on the health care board to dissolve this district. If it refuses, we will call for an initiative to put the question on the ballot and let the voters of Camarillo decide if they want to continue funding the district.

H. JERE ROBINGS

President,

Ventura County Alliance

of Taxpayers

Thousand Oaks

It made me angry to read that H. Jere Robings and the Ventura County Alliance of Taxpayers are speaking out against the Camarillo Health Care District and plan to “investigate” how the tax dollars are spent.

I live in Camarillo and have medical insurance. Why do I appreciate and utilize the Camarillo Health Care District? Simply because going through my “preferred provider” to be referred to specialists can be a hassle.

Looking back over the past year, we used the district to have one of our children’s feet checked by a podiatrist, and on another occasion to have a dermatologist check my sunburned nose. Because I have another child with multiple allergies, I have taken a class to educate myself on food labels. I’ve listened to a talk on homeopathy and will soon start a weight management class.

The district offers an array of classes to suit every age group and level of ability to pay. All of the classes I have been to were well-attended.

As for the purchase of a “restaurant” so that the district can teach cooking classes, I am sure Robings was referring to the oddly placed little eatery called Googies that was housed next to the district and was the size of a dentist’s waiting room.

I do not know who the director of the district is and am not concerned that his or her salary may be too high. I do care about my community and feel it is well served by this small but effective health care district.

PEG HICKS-MOORE

Camarillo

Re: Camarillo Health Care District.

I cannot sit silently by while something as important to me and my family as the Camarillo Health Care District is done away with. The day care offered there, known as Club Camarillo, is attended by my husband four days a week.

He is in his fifth year of Alzheimer’s disease. When he is cared for by such gentle, loving, understanding and challenging people it keeps him more alert and social than he could possibly be without it. This is vital for both of us.

While there he enjoys music, exercise, crafts, games and visiting children and pets. I don’t know of anything that could benefit him more than this group of caregivers and being with others with various health problems. A support group is offered for the families of Club Camarillo members and it is something very precious to each of us.

In short--I am thankful for the Camarillo Health Care District and all it offers.

PATRICIA V. FOLINO

Camarillo