Cities Fear $23-Million Loss in Revenue : Government: A state budget plan to cut funding may cost the 10 area municipalities 386 full-time jobs. Officials vow to counter with an initiative.

Ventura County cities stand to lose more than $23 million in revenue if the Legislature adopts a proposal to slash $1 billion in funding to local governments, municipal officials said Tuesday.

In a report, the Assn. of Ventura County Cities said the cuts would mean a loss of 386 full-time jobs--the largest share being borne by public safety workers.

The state cutback--proposed to deal with a state budget deficit of nearly $11 billion--would require Ventura County cities to lay off an estimated 143 police officers, firefighters, school crossing guards and lifeguards, according to the association’s report.

The cities also would lose 125 park attendants, librarians and bus drivers, and 118 maintenance workers, planners and dog catchers, the report said.

Meeting Tuesday in Camarillo, city representatives called the budget proposal “devastating” and vowed to counter with a statewide initiative that would assure cities of steady financing in tight budget years. Many of them will be in Sacramento this week lobbying lawmakers.

“I think it’s time to play political hardball up there,” Camarillo City Manager Bill Little said.

State Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), who sits on the budget conference committee, said her office already has been flooded with calls and letters about the proposal.

“My fax machine is smoking,” Wright said during a break in the budget talks. “I think I’ve gotten a letter from every employee in Thousand Oaks.”

Wright said she has not taken a stand on the proposed cuts. “What is important is that we get a fair budget proposal put together,” she said.

Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria), who also serves on the budget committee, said he supports spreading a share of the cuts to cities.

“The alternative is releasing felons and closing state colleges and universities. That is not acceptable,” he said.

The committee is considering about 75 proposals for cuts in local government spending, he said.

The committee is also studying the possibility of granting cities greater taxing authority, the assemblyman said.

The Legislature missed its deadline to adopt a new budget on Monday. Members have been meeting this week in hopes of reaching agreement by the weekend on the cuts to local governments.

Although the association’s report did not break down the projected layoffs by city, Oxnard officials say they could be forced to lay off as many as 120 of the city’s 680 workers to make up for an estimated $5.7-million loss in state funds. At least 10 of those positions would be police officers.

Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi said the cuts would affect current employees, not unfilled positions.

“Up to now, we were talking about vacant jobs,” he said. “Now we’re talking about live bodies.”

Although smaller than Oxnard’s, the proposed cuts could be more significant to Camarillo and Moorpark, officials said, because both rely more on state aid. Unlike some larger cities, Camarillo and Moorpark have fewer local sources of tax revenue, such as shopping malls and hotels, officials said.

Moorpark would lose about $1 million, or 26% of its $3.8-million general fund, according to the association’s report. Camarillo would lose about $2.1 million, or about 20.5% of its $10.2-million general fund.

In Camarillo, the lost revenue could mean the elimination of city buses, subsidies for social services and funds for special community events.

“I don’t know where we’ll cut back. We’re down to one building inspector right now,” Camarillo Councilwoman Charlotte Craven said. “I’ve been on the council six years, and every year the state has said they don’t have any money, they’ve got to cut us back. I think it’s time they really cut back.”

Ojai officials said they have had no time to prepare for the cuts because news of the impending reductions came only a week ago. The city’s budget proposal for the 1992-93 year will have to be shelved, City Manager Andrew S. Belknap said.

At the suggestion of Thousand Oaks City Manager Grant R. Brimhall, the association agreed to draft a statewide initiative that would assure cities a share of taxes that are collected from local residents.

“If we don’t do that, we’re going to be here fighting this every year from now on,” he said.

Each of the 10 Ventura County cities is expected to approve the resolution before it is sent to other counties and to the board of the League of California Cities, Brimhall said. Wright criticized the cities’ attempt to preserve their funding by passing a new law.

“I get very, very upset when I hear they think the only way to preserve their cut of the pie is with an initiative,” she said. “Would they like the police department to run an initiative that would assure that they get their cut of the budget?”

Effect of Aid Cuts Projected loss in revenues to local municipalities if a proposed $1-billion cut in state aid to local governments is approved:

Projected City Population Lost Revenue Camarillo 53,879 $2,155,160 Fillmore 12,098 $483,920 Moorpark 25,917 $1,036,680 Ojai 7,646 $305,840 Oxnard 143,781 $5,751,240 Port Hueneme 20,353 $814,120 Santa Paula 25,478 $1,019,120 Simi Valley 100,928 $4,037,120 Thousand Oaks 105,702 $4,228,080 Ventura 93,483 $3,739,320 TOTAL 589,265 $23,570,600

Source: Assn. of Ventura County Cities