Recall of vehicle registration fees to cost $870,000 in Agoura Hills

By Stephanie Bertholdo Acorn Staff Writer

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cancellation of the vehicle licensing fees (VLF) that would have restored $4 billion to city coffers throughout California will instead result in an $870,000 loss of revenue to the city of Agoura Hills, said Agoura Hills Mayor Dan Kuperberg at last week’s city council meeting.

Kuperberg said he’s very concerned about the state budget.

The mayor has written to Schwarzenegger, state Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D-Woodland Hills) and state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) outlining his concerns.

In a subsequent interview, Kuperberg said he expects to consult with city staff and other council members in January to discuss the shortfall. Together they’ll decide how to deal with it, he said.

"Do we cut programs, lay off staff or does each department scale down 10 percent?" Kuperberg asked. He would not support any cuts to vital services for the people, he said.

"Agoura Hills deserves this money," said Kuperberg about the lost VLF funds.

"The vehicle licensing fees were set up to guarantee funds for local services. They’ve taken our money. They’re bigger than us. We can push and shove, but we can’t really fight them," he said. Kuperberg said that some cities will go bankrupt and people will suffer.

Kuperberg accused elected officials in Sacramento of "playing politics." It’s obvious that taxes must be raised to survive the state budget crisis, he said. But he added that it’s politically incorrect to suggest raising taxes.

"Raise (taxes) on the richest, raise it on cigarettes and alcohol," Kuperberg said.

The state shouldn’t take city and county money and go back on its promises.

"Do I sound angry?" Kuperberg asked, answering with an immediate "Yes!

To avoid tax increases coming from Sacramento, state legislators would rather force cities and counties into doing it, according to Kuperberg. "They don’t pay for the sheriff, we do!" he said.

"More parks are more of a want than a need," said Kuperberg. Preserving services in Agoura Hills in the face of California’s economic problems is a much higher priority, he said.

The Agoura Hills City Council anticipated state budget problems, Kuperberg said, and the city has enough money set aside in a reserve fund to ease the burden.

Essentials will remain the top priority, he said.