COUNTYWIDE : 2 Airports Cost $315,000 to Operate

The airports in Oxnard and Camarillo cost Ventura County about $315,000 to operate during the 1988-89 fiscal year, according to an annual audit presented Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.

But after adding $242,000 in interest on revenues and deducting $211,000 for depreciation on donated equipment, the county’s airport budget for 1988-89 came out in the black by $139,000, according to the audit.

Assistant Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon said the audit provided no surprises and generally was in line with annual audits of previous years.

The audit completed last week said permit fees, hangar rental, landing fees and other operating revenues generated $2.3 million for the 12 months ending June, 1989. Operating expenses, such as salaries, maintenance supplies and office expenses, totaled $2.6 million.

The audit came a week after the county released a $40,000 study that said air travelers and businesses associated with the two facilities generated more than $55 million to Ventura County’s economy. The study said the airports were responsible for bringing 74,000 visitors who spent about $13.1 million last year at hotels, restaurants and shopping centers.