Colleges OK $63.5-Million Budget : Finances: With the actual amount of state funding unknown, district officials say more cuts and even layoffs are possible.

Ventura County Community College District officials are preparing for more budget cuts and possible layoffs, although they have approved a $63.5-million tentative budget for the coming fiscal year.

District trustees approved the 1991-92 budget late Tuesday, but final adoption will not come until Sept. 3 when the amount of state funding to the district is certain.

The budget already reflects $4.6 million in cuts made by district officials earlier this year. But they learned last month that worsening state revenue predictions call for $670,000 in possible additional cuts.

District administrators have told the three colleges to plan for a new round of cuts: $250,000 at Moorpark College, $110,000 at Oxnard College and $256,000 at Ventura College, as well as $54,000 at district headquarters.

So far, the district has avoided any layoffs, but Chancellor Barbara Derryberry said now it may become necessary.

“If we must cut to the extent we’re being asked, the district office will have to lay off people,” she said. “Oxnard College may have to as well.”

Administrators at the colleges have not yet decided how they will make cuts. It won’t be known until later this summer whether, in fact, they will have to make any.

Although college officials are preparing for the worst, Tom Kimberling, still serving as district budget officer pending his resignation in August, told the trustees Tuesday that the latest word on the state funding shortage is that it may not be as drastic as earlier thought.

Because of recent changes in the way the state funds community colleges, the district could receive $800,000 to $1.4 million more than was anticipated.

Nonetheless, officials are meeting on each campus to prepare a list of cuts in case they must reduce the budget further.

Oxnard College may have to lay off up to three people, said Roger Boedecker, the college’s vice president for instruction.

The college’s budget committee is considering cuts in the athletic program that range from one minor sport to the whole program. The committee is also looking at reductions in the journalism and television programs.

“Everyone has been touched by this--everyone has been skinned,” he said.

At Moorpark College, administrators are also considering cuts in the athletic program as well as other areas. College President Stan Bowers said the entire athletic program would not be cut, but it is possible that as many as three sports could be eliminated.

Earlier this year, district officials proposed $4.6 million in cuts to offset expected shortages in state funding. The cuts included eliminating classes, cutting 20 to 50 part-time instructors. Other cutbacks included not filling vacant positions and asking administrators to teach classes.