OXNARD : City Officials Look at Slashing Jobs

Looking to slash bureaucracy and reduce operating expenses, Oxnard city officials on Tuesday outlined cost-saving proposals such as running a city animal shelter and beginning a light work program for injured firefighters.

Facing a $2-million deficit, Oxnard officials are proposing a $60.3-million budget that calls for the most extensive personnel cuts in the city’s history: up to 37 layoffs and the elimination of as many as 18 vacant positions, excluding those in the police and fire departments.

“We will try to place city workers in other positions,” City Manager Thomas Frutchey said. “However, as we become leaner, that will become increasingly difficult.”

Police Chief Harold Hurtt asked the City Council for up to 16 new positions Tuesday during the first of two 1994-95 budget sessions. Council members asked for a more detailed analysis of the long-term effect of hiring more police workers and moved that discussion to Thursday.

Some of the eventual costs of redesigning city services are listed in the proposed budget as unknown, and Councilman Michael A. Plisky wondered whether the redesigned services might be more expensive than what they would replace.

Other city officials emphasized that the current level of services should not be compromised as a result of the budget measures.

“We don’t want to get to the point where we’re so cost-driven that it is sacrificing the quality of our services,” Councilman Tom Holden said.

Mayor Manuel Lopez noted that if the proposed budget is approved, cuts will have forced Oxnard to scale back its work force to below 900 from about 1,100 in recent years.

“That will make it very difficult to provide the services that are required,” he said.

The budget is expected to be adopted by the council early next month.