Tag: Ventura County Taxpayers Association

Guest contribution — Ventura County Taxpayers Association — VCMS: A Cash Crisis Deepens

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Oversight Warnings Ignored

The Ventura County Medical System (VCMS) — including Ventura County Medical Center, Santa Paula Hospital, and associated clinics — is a cornerstone of public healthcare in our community, delivering essential services like emergency care, inpatient treatment, and outpatient support. Yet, beneath this vital mission lies a mounting financial crisis that demands urgent attention from taxpayers and leaders alike.

The Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) has consistently sounded the alarm on VCMS’s deteriorating finances (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Recent events in 2025 and early 2026 have only amplified these concerns, exposing deeper issues in governance, leadership, and accountability.

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Ventura County Taxpayers Association — 2026 New CA Laws

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Affordability for Ventura County residents will be the focus of most people’s attention this year. Although we have identified no new countywide taxes or major local sales tax changes for 2026, many of the new laws impose mandates that raise living costs without direct taxpayer approval.

Several new state laws and adjustments take effect in 2026 that will impact your wallet—through higher costs, increased business expenses (often passed to consumers), or direct taxpayer-funded programs. 

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Guest commentary — Ventura County Taxpayers Association opposes County of Ventura Item 43 (Public Defender’s Immigrant Defense Fund)

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On Tuesday, August 26th, 2025, Supervisor Vianey Lopez will ask the Board of Supervisors to establish various programs to assist immigration-related proceedings at a cost of $6.3 million of taxpayer funds. The Supervisor is asking taxpayers to pay for an Immigration Legal Defense Fund for a team of lawyers in the Public Defender’s Immigrant Defense Unit and provide financial support for a “Migrant Education Program”.

The Ventura County Taxpayers Association opposes the proposed measures as misguided, fiscally irresponsible, and potentially exposing the County to significant legal and financial risks.

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VC Taxpayers Association January Recap!

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We’re kicking off 2025 with great momentum, and we’re excited to share January’s highlights with you! Here’s a look at what’s happening at the VC Taxpayers Association.

Advocacy in Action: Our Executive Director, Ryan Grau, joined the Pacific Coast Business Times podcast Civil Dialogues, this week for an interview with Henry Dubroff. Ryan highlighted our collective efforts in advocating for transparency over the past year in the medical industry, school boards, local city budgets, bond measures, and more. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and will continue working hard to ensure taxpayers’ voices are heard.

To watch the podcast, please visit: Spotify, Apple or Amazon.

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Ventura County Taxpayers Association — Mountain Fire resources

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As the Mountain Fire continues to impact Ventura County, we want to help you access the resources and support needed to protect your operations, workers, and property. Our hearts are with all those affected, and we stand ready to help in any way possible.

In partnership with Farm Bureau Ventura County, the Ag Commissioner’s Office, UCCE, VCRCD, USDA-FSA, Thomas Fire survivors, and others, VC CoLAB is co-hosting a series of webinars for the agricultural community. 

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