COUNTYWIDE : Officials Dispute Grand Jury Report

Ventura County officials have taken a final swipe at the grand jury, which accused the Board of Supervisors of contributing nearly $4 million to a proposed children’s home without examining the potential long-term costs.

Formally responding to the grand jury’s annual report, county officials wrote that extensive public hearings had been held to discuss the costs and benefits of building the home, called Casa Pacifica.

“This public-private venture will meet the needs of Ventura County’s abused and neglected children well into the next century,” wrote Jim Isom, director of the Public Social Services Agency. “Any cost increase over our current fragmented system can certainly be justified by the quality and comprehensiveness of services and activities to be provided in a single facility.”

Isom’s response, as well as those of other county department heads, will be presented to the Board of Supervisors at its meeting on Tuesday. The supervisors are expected to vote to send the documents to the grand jury.

Also responding to the grand jury’s report was Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury.

The grand jury recommended that the county increase the sales tax by half a cent to pay for more law enforcement.

Bradbury said he was in favor of the recommendation. But, he wrote: “As of this date, no efforts have been made by any local governmental leaders designed to convince the public that present conditions mandate the necessity to increase local taxes.”