P. O . B o x 3 8 7 8 , Ve n t u r a , C A 9 3 0 0 6 www.vcta.org May 12, 2026, Honorable Mayor and Members of the Camarillo City Council Camarillo City Hall 601 Carmen Drive Camarillo, CA 93010 RE: ITEM R - STRONG OPPOSITION to the Proposed “Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas Resolution” Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers: The Ventura County Taxpayers Association is against the Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas Resolution. We do not think this plan helps the people of Camarillo. Instead, it wastes time and money and could hurt families, businesses, and local government services. There is no oil or gas drilling or production happening in the City of Camarillo. This resolution wants the City to get involved in big, complicated energy issues that aren't the city's purview. People in Camarillo expect their City Council to work on problems that matter most to them, like safety, traffic, fixing roads, affordable housing, jobs, parks, and helping the homeless. Making statements about things the city can't control wastes time and resources. The Policy Committee has already spent many meetings on this without any real benefit or saving money. The City government should focus on local issues, not on promoting ideas that don't relate to running the city. It is also worrying that getting rid of local oil and gas could hurt taxpayers: Jobs and Economic Stability for Ventura County Families. Oil and gas companies provide very important to jobs in Ventura County. They give many people good jobs with good pay and benefits. These jobs help people buy homes, spend money locally, and keep the economy strong. If we get rid of oil and gas too quickly, many people could lose their jobs and businesses could suffer.
P. O . B o x 3 8 7 8 , Ve n t u r a , C A 9 3 0 0 6 www.vcta.org Critical Tax Revenue for Essential Public Services Oil and gas production generates millions of dollars in tax revenue and royalties that flow directly to the Ventura County government. Local producers have historically contributed more than $21 million annually to the County budget alone, helping fund public safety, schools, road maintenance, fire protection, public health programs, and other essential county services. Weakening this revenue stream would create budget pressures that ultimately fall on Camarillo and other local taxpayers through higher taxes, service reductions, or deferred infrastructure maintenance. Taxpayers cannot afford policies that undermine one of the County’s important existing revenue sources. Cost of Living Going Up for Families and Seniors California already has some of the highest gas and energy prices in the country. If we stop making oil and gas here but still need it, prices will go up even more because we will have to buy it from other places. This makes everything more expensive—gas, food, shipping, building, and more. People who don't have a lot of money, seniors, and families who travel far for work will be hurt the most. Small businesses will also have higher costs, which means prices will go up for everyone. The Ventura County Taxpayers Association thinks the City Council should make smart choices that save money and help the local economy. We ask you to say no to the Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas Resolution and focus on things that really help the people and businesses of Camarillo. Thank you for considering the interests of Ventura County taxpayers.
Don Brodt Chair of the Board Ventura County Taxpayers Association