COUNTYWIDE : Hard Hats Given to Ax-Wielding Board

Members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will have the proper headgear when they pick up their budget axes to chop $16 million from next year’s spending plan.

On Tuesday, former supervisor Ed Jones presented each supervisor and the county’s chief administrative officer with a white hard hat emblazoned with the words “Budget Brigade” and “The Buck Stops Here.”

A few board members tried the hats on, looked at each other, giggled and set them aside. Jones, a board veteran of 12 years, acknowledged that the hats will not ease the projected deficit, but he said they will not add to it because they were not purchased with public funds.

“I’m sorry I don’t have $16 million or a magic wand,” he said as he reached into two large sacks to pull out the hats.

As Supervisor John K. Flynn tried to turn the tables and put one on Jones, the former supervisor jumped back. “I’m out of that game now,” he shouted.

Flynn countered: “Ed, why didn’t you have that kind of humor when you were on the board?”