Road Fund Gets Bulk of $450,000 Windfall
Once again, Ventura County leaders were faced with a tough financial decision.
Armed with a $450,000 windfall for granting a 30-year franchise agreement to Southern California Gas Co., the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday considered half a dozen options for spending that money.
After some debate, supervisors agreed to give $50,000 to the county’s Entrepreneur Academy, $100,000 to boost the county’s ailing library system and the remainder to a fund set up for transportation projects.
Public Works Director Art Goulet was especially adamant that his department receive some, if not the bulk, of the money. He argued that the onetime franchise payment came as a result of negotiations his department conducted with the utility.
“The proof of the pudding is that there is $450,000 here now that would not have been here if not for our efforts,” Goulet told the board.
Supervisors backed Goulet, agreeing to put $300,000 in the county’s road fund.
“I think when funds are brought in for certain reasons, that’s what they should be expended for,” Supervisor Judy Mikels said.
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