Calabasas landscape districts out of cash–again

By Michael Picarella Acorn Staff Writer

The upkeep of greenbelts and common areas in Calabasas faces an uncertain future.

Portions of property owners’ tax dollars in Calabasas are earmarked for landscape districts, which help maintain greenbelts in the city. But the landscape districts will soon run out of money—again.

In the past, city staff has transferred funds from the general fund to landscape districts and vice versa. The transfers were made independently, without advising the city council. But due to recent changes in procedures, the city council must now approve them.

Staff recently asked for more than $1.5 million for landscape districts to keep them solvent, but council members only approved an interest free loan of about $100,000 for 90 days.

"The proof of the fact that (the financial recording system) is not operating properly is the fact that they ran out of money again without any warning," said Calabasas City Councilman Barry Groveman. If the system had worked, there would have been emergency funds, he said.

Contributing to the shortage is cash flow, according to Calabasas Mayor Pro Tem Michael Harrison.

"What’s happening is that (the landscape districts) don’t get the money equally every month," Harrison said. The districts, he said, are replenished by property tax funds only twice a year. Starting in December, the districts should be given enough money to last most of the year, Harrison said.

But until then, the districts are in danger of shutting down.

The city of Calabasas allegedly owes money to the districts. In previous years, the city "borrowed" landscape funds to pay for other priorities.

But Calabasas property owners should never have footed the bill for city-owned facilities––especially with landscaping funds, Groveman said.

A group of citizens was recently appointed by to address the matter. The committee, which was appointed by the council, was instructed to determine how much the city owes to landscape districts.

It could be very little or as much as $700,000, according to Harrison. The city, he said, will likely repay the funds that were used elsewhere.

The citizens’ group should have the details by next month, according to Harrison.

The council will continue to approve disbursements to the landscape districts (in addition to the $100,000), Harrison said, to keep them solvent.

And better accounting will prevent future problems, Groveman said.