Oxnard : Church Says It Must Close Day-Care Site

Less than two months after the New Beginnings Christian Center worked out a plan with Oxnard to continue operating a day-care facility at the South Oxnard Community Center, the church has informed the city that it cannot afford to keep the center open.

The Oxnard-based church has notified officials that it will close the day-care facility by May 8, and blamed a drop in enrollment for its inability to continue.

Pastor Lonnie G. McCowan of New Beginnings said in a letter to the city that the center had lost 21 of the 70 children enrolled in the program, for an estimated monthly loss of $7,000 in revenue.

Less than two months ago, church leaders agreed to pay Oxnard $32,400 in back rent, while the city agreed to drop the day-care facility’s rent. But a $16,200 check that New Beginnings sent the city for half of the back rent bounced. The church made good on the payment later.

Since then, the church has failed to pay two months’ worth of rent and owes the city a total of $24,450, which includes the unpaid back rent plus late fees, said Jack C. Lavin, a city facilities manager.