Case Study

Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative

The County of Orange hired PFM to examine the fiscal impact of a countywide ballot initiative titled the "Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative," that prohibited the El Toro MCAS from becoming an airport. The initiative changes the allowable land uses at El Toro (under the County's General Plan) to those described as "nature preserve," "open space reserve," and "education/park compatible." This would effectively restrict much of the property to active and passive parkland, although a portion of the property could be developed for education-related uses (e.g. California State University satellite campus). PFM's work involved an analysis of the County's General Plan, a projection of likely uses under the proposed land use changes, an estimate of the County revenues generated from the proposed uses, and an estimate of the County costs to develop, maintain, and service the property. PFM also evaluated the potential benefits from the interim use of base facilities and the environmental restrictions related to a transfer of the base from the Department of Navy.

The Auditor-Controller used PFM's fiscal analysis as a basis to prepare a fiscal impact statement on the March 2002 ballot. The County Supervisors have also relied on the analysis to make policy decisions regarding the El Toro property.