Countywide : Talks Under Way for New County Schools Office

At a time when many school districts are slashing budgets and cutting programs, the Ventura County superintendent of schools office is attempting to purchase property in Camarillo for its new headquarters.

Assistant Supt. Robert Smith said the agency recently made an offer for a three-acre site on Verdugo Way that includes a two-story, 40,000-square-foot building.

But Smith said the offer was turned down and negotiations are continuing.

He declined to give details of the offer.

Although many school districts are being forced to cut personnel and special education programs, Smith said the superintendent’s office is in good financial shape.

The office has set aside about $3 million for a new headquarters.

Because of the depressed real estate market, Smith said, it is an opportune time to purchase a new office site, one that is more centrally located in the county.

While his office would have to go into debt to purchase a new site, Smith said it should be viewed as a long-term investment.

“We are not a one-year operation,” Smith said.

“We’re a government agency that’s going to be around forever.”

The superintendent’s office now pays about $100,000 a year to lease space in downtown Ventura that has no parking facilities and is badly in need of maintenance, Smith said.

The lease expires in June, 1995.

He said the superintendent’s office would sell so-called certificates of participation to finance the purchase of a new building.

These are similar to bonds but do not require voter approval because they are not financed by an increase in property taxes.

In addition to issuing payroll checks to the 16,000 employees of Ventura County school districts, the superintendent’s office is responsible for monitoring school district budgets.

It also manages several school sites and programs for the handicapped and students in the Juvenile Court system.