County Splits Funds for 2 Agencies

After a prickly discussion, county leaders have voted to split $120,000 evenly between two Ventura County domestic violence agencies despite one organization’s request for a larger share of the special marriage license fee funds.

In past years, county supervisors have divided the money raised from the issuance of marriage licenses 50-50 between Interface Children Family Services and the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Before 1995, each agency operated one shelter for victims of domestic violence in Ventura County.

Earlier this month, Interface asked for $76,363 in the special funds instead of the $60,000 under the original plan because the agency recently opened a second battered women’s shelter. The Coalition Against Violence’s board of directors agreed to receive $43,636.

But at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Judy Mikels said it was unfair to change the formula for disbursing the funds without giving the coalition ample time to plan for the change in its budget.

“If we are going to change the formula . . . that should be done with lead time,” Mikels said.

A majority of the supervisors decided Tuesday to give $60,000 to each agency, but to base next year’s funding on the number of people the agencies serve rather than on the number of shelters each operates.

With a $3.6-million budget, Interface runs two shelters and other programs in two undisclosed Ventura County sites. The coalition has a $500,000 budget that it uses to operate its Ventura shelter and provide other services. Both agencies often provide cross-referrals for counseling and shelter services.