Cuts in Fire, Police Jobs May Be Left to Attrition : Oxnard: Eight firefighter and 16 officer positions may be eliminated to avoid a projected $2.8-million deficit next year.

The proposed elimination of 16 police officers and eight firefighters in Oxnard to help balance next year’s budget would probably be done through attrition rather than immediate layoffs, city officials said Friday.

Their comments pointed to a gentler immediate effect of voters’ rejection this week of a new tax than had been predicted by the tax’s supporters.

The proponents, including police and firefighter associations, suggested in flyers that public safety was riding on approval of the 5% utility tax.

“June 5 could be the day the L. A. gangs and drug dealers have been waiting for,” one flyer carrying the seal of the Oxnard Peace Officers Assn. said. “Will the gangs win or will we?”

Despite the support by police officers and firefighters, who delivered pro-tax literature door-to-door during off-duty hours, voters rejected the tax by nearly 3 to 1.

Police and fire officials said Friday that residents would probably not feel the effect at once if cuts are made in their departments.

“Our understanding is we would not let anyone go,” Assistant Police Chief William Cady said. “We would just not hire people as we go along.”

“Through attrition it could be a long time” before the reductions are actually made, Assistant Fire Chief Ted Christensen said.

In a report to the City Council last week, City Manager David Mora recommended eliminating 64 positions--including 16 police officers and eight firefighters--to avoid a projected $2.8-million deficit in next year’s budget. The utility tax would have raised $5 million a year.

Possible budget-cutting measures include closing the Carnegie Art Museum, eliminating Sunday library hours and canceling the Community Center Youth Recreation Program.

Both the police and fire departments are already under their authorized strength. The 154-officer Police Department has eight vacancies; the 43-person Fire Department, seven.

It is difficult to say how long it would take to reduce the number of police and firefighters to the recommended levels through attrition, officials said.

The council will meet Tuesday to discuss final budget cuts. Budget discussions will continue during morning and evening sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.

Cady said if the cuts are approved the Police Department would probably redeploy officers to patrol and investigations and reduce manpower in units such as youth services and traffic enforcement.

Christensen said the Fire Department would redeploy firefighters, although he could not say exactly how.

Christensen said it has been hard to maintain morale in the department and there is still a sense of impending doom among firefighters.

James Willis, a police management analyst, said morale is low there as well. “We are really seriously hurting,” he said.

Mayor Nao Takasugi and City Councilman Manuel Lopez have said there appears to be no alternative to eliminating police and fire positions.

Bill Lewis, president of the Oxnard Peace Officers Assn., said the police and firefighters who campaigned for the tax increase are going to continue to urge the City Council to spare police and fire personnel from the budget chopping blocks.

“We are not giving up,” he said.