PORT HUENEME : Police to Lose Officer in Cost-Cutting Plan

The Port Hueneme Police Department will lose one police officer under a budget-cutting plan enacted by the City Council on Wednesday.

About $50,000 can be saved next year by eliminating one officer’s position, said City Manager Dick Velthoen, who added that the department’s services would not be significantly affected by the reduction.

The vote was 3 to 0, with Councilmen Dorill B. Wright and Ken Hess absent.

Port Hueneme resident David Kanter said the safety of citizens should be the city’s first concern. “We need more police officers on the street.”

Council members said they agreed with staff recommendations reluctantly. “I don’t want to lose any of our city employees,” said Councilman James Daniels. “But something has to be done.”

The layoff is one of several ways that the city will trim costs next year for a total savings of $147,000.

Other cost-saving measures approved by the council include hiring private companies for landscape and vehicle maintenance, eliminating a city motor pool and reducing the amount of health insurance offered council members.

Velthoen recommended the early actions to head off an anticipated shortfall in revenue for the 1992-93 fiscal year. With the current level of services, the city will face an $815,000 shortfall next year, according to projections. Velthoen reminded the council that further reductions may be necessary as final budget figures become available.

Police Chief Robert Anderson said the person targeted for layoff is a trainee. Twenty officers will remain on the force, enough to continue regular operations, he said.

“We can run just as efficiently as we have in the past.”

The council earlier this month directed city staff to begin discussions with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and the Oxnard Police Department on contracting police services. A report is not expected for several months.