Countywide : 3 Supervisors Say They’d Take Pay Cut

Three Ventura County supervisors said Thursday that they would favor a 5% salary cut for themselves to help alleviate the county’s $16-million budget deficit for 1991-92.

The five-member board has told county officials to propose ways to cut their budgets by 5% and by 10% for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Vicky Howard, John K. Flynn and Maria VanderKolk said Thursday that they would be willing to cut their own salaries, now $47,844 a year. Maggie Erickson Kildee and Susan K. Lacey could not be reached for comment.

“It is important to set an example,” Howard said. “I think the board needs to be in line with other county agencies.”

Like Howard, Flynn said he favors cutting supervisors’ salaries, but said other areas should be considered to help reduce the deficit, including elimination of supervisors’ car telephones and restrictions on travel.

However, Howard said she wants to keep her car phone. “I’m on the road quite a bit. I’d rather give up my salary than my cellular phone.”

VanderKolk said she wants all essential services, which include police and fire departments, to remain intact and would oppose cutting their budgets.

“If it’s necessary for our department to meet a 5% cut, then I have no problems with that,” she said of the salary cut. “I would much rather take a 5% reduction in pay than to face a reduction in my personal staff.”