OXNARD : Road Official Says $52 Million Needed

The city of Oxnard needs an additional $52 million over the next five years to bring city streets up to proper standards, a street maintenance supervisor told the Oxnard City Council on Tuesday during budget deliberations.

Because of budget woes, however, the city is recommending spending only $700,000 next year on road maintenance and repair, city officials said. The figure represents a $300,000 increase over this year’s street maintenance allocation.

The street maintenance and repair program is usually funded with city and state funds. Because of state budget problems, city officials do not expect the state to substantially increase money for local street maintenance.

In 1987, the city spent $3.2 million on street maintenance and repair, including $1.7 million in state funds, said James Weeks, equipment maintenance superintendent.

This year, the city has allocated $1.6 million for street maintenance, about $400,000 of which was funded by the city, he said.

Assistant City Manager John Tooker said the city staff is recommending that any unexpected money identified during the next year be spent on the maintenance of city streets.