THOUSAND OAKS : Panel Asked to Probe Arts Plaza Financing

A Thousand Oaks City Council candidate Tuesday asked the Ventura County grand jury to investigate the financing of the new Civic Arts Plaza, claiming that city officials mishandled taxpayer money.

In a letter to the grand jury, council candidate Chuck Morsa said city officials misused city funds to pay for the recently completed $86-million civic and performing arts center.

Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Judy Lazar denied that the city did anything wrong when piecing together arts plaza funding.

“The finances were handled appropriately, legally and above board,” said Lazar, who is also a candidate in the Nov. 8 election. “It’s his right to ask for an investigation, but we didn’t do anything wrong.”

The city’s financing of the plaza has relied heavily on debt, with bonds and internal loans accounting for 75% of the total budget. By borrowing internally, the city used funds that otherwise could have been used to pave roads, run libraries, build trails and maintain countless other city services.

In his letter, Morsa called the financing plan “stealing from the public.”

But Lazar, as well as Councilman Frank Schillo and Mayor Alex Fiore, have said internal financing will save the city money in the long run. Also, they have said the new civic center is worth the expense because it will serve for decades as a rallying point for the city.

The grand jury is a citizens’ panel appointed by Superior Court judges to indict criminal suspects, review government performance and investigate government agencies accused of wrongdoing. The 19-member body issues its findings in an annual report released in the summer.