OXNARD : Further Study Urged on Budget Plan

Oxnard City Manager Vernon Hazen, who two weeks ago stressed the urgency of adopting a final budget, is now proposing further study of money-making options before a new spending plan is approved.

Hazen, who had suggested that the city use reserves to pay a $605,000 state debt, now recommends that the City Council study alternatives.

Options listed in a report to the council include:

* Accelerating the city’s plan to combine departments, which would cut $100,000 in administrative overhead.

* Turning several city departments, including the city attorney’s office and the Economic Development Department, over to private contractors.

* Examining ways to sell city services to private parties.

Mayor Manuel Lopez said he thought marketing city services and privatization are not likely to be successful.

“You really can’t create something from nothing,” Lopez said. “We’ve tried things like that before and what happens is you pay less, but you also get less.”

Councilman Michael Plisky, who strongly opposed Hazen’s initial suggestion of dipping into city reserves, said he supports the delay.

Lopez agreed, likening this round of budget cuts to losing weight. “When you’re trying to loose 100 pounds, the first 20 are easy, after that, every pound is a struggle.”