OXNARD : City Promises to Cut Budget if Tax Fails

Unless Oxnard voters approve a 5% utility tax increase, the city must make some drastic budget cuts to avoid a $2.7-million deficit next year, City Manager David Mora told the City Council Tuesday.

Mora issued the warning during the first of several discussions on the 1990-91 budget, which is scheduled for final adoption at the end of June.

“The success of that utility tax is crucial to the survival of the city,” Mora said.

The tax, which voters will consider on June 5, would add about $5 million annually to Oxnard’s coffers. However, Mora said, the city is going to proceed with the budget adoption process under the assumption that the tax will not be adopted.

Without the extra revenue from the tax, the council must consider major budget cuts, which could include eliminating jobs and closing several city facilities such as a youth boxing center, a day camp, an art museum and a library.

Mora and the city department heads drafted a list of budget cut options, which total $3,649,539 in reductions and include the elimination of 80 full-time jobs.

During the meeting, two citizens urged the council to spare La Colonia Youth Boxing Center from the budget chopping block. The center, which annually costs the city $43,450 to operate, serves about 400 youths, mostly from Latino working-class families, according to city officials.

Oxnard resident John Hart said he and other supporters of the center have collected signatures from more than 500 residents, urging the council to keep the center open.