Region in Line for $2.2 Million in Extra Law Enforcement Funds

Ventura County and its 10 cities would receive an extra $2.2 million in law enforcement funding from the state under a plan to be considered by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

For the county to qualify for the state money, supervisors must formally establish by Sept. 15 a special committee to oversee how funds are spent, officials said.

The committee will include Sheriff Larry Carpenter, Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury, Chief Administrative Officer Lin Koester, Camarillo City Manager Bill Little and Oxnard Police Chief Harold Hurtt. Little and Hurtt were selected for the committee Friday by representatives from each of the county’s cities.

Gov. Pete Wilson recently approved an anti-crime bill that provides $100 million to counties and cities statewide for a wide range of public safety services.

Under the state’s Citizens Option for Public Safety Program, or COPS, the district attorney will receive $277,700 for prosecutorial services, the sheriff $277,700 for jail operations and another $212,800 for law enforcement services in the unincorporated area of the county.

The county’s cities will split another $1.4 million, which could be used to hire more patrol officers, purchase equipment or support safety programs, said Kathy McCann, an analyst in the county chief administrator’s office.

Although the extra money is welcome, county officials have long made law enforcement services a top priority and have taken steps to ensure that they remain fiscally strong.

A majority of the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance last year that shields the Sheriff’s Department and other public safety agencies from budget cuts. The ordinance also guarantees that all money collected under a special statewide half-cent sales tax goes exclusively to five designated county law enforcement agencies. The tax brings in about $30 million annually in extra revenues.

Still, county officials said they will have no problem finding ways to spend the additional state money.

Bradbury said his office plans to use the money to help pay for litigating murder cases, which have been on the rise in recent months.

“We’re experiencing more murder cases and capital cases then I can remember ever seeing in this office,” said Bradbury, who has been the county’s district attorney since 1978. “We’re spending a small fortune on these cases.”

Although he cannot use the money for pay raises for his prosecutors, Bradbury said he has already pledged to come up with $300,000 from his own budget for salary increases.

“The fact that we’re getting this money will make it easier,” he said.

After more than a year of contentious negotiations, prosecutors have failed to reach an agreement with the county over pay raises. Two deputy district attorneys recently left the county over the pay dispute and two others have announced plans to leave.

Meanwhile, county officials said it is still unclear whether the additional law enforcement money from the state will be available on an ongoing basis. As it stands, state lawmakers must approve money for the COPS program every year, McCann said.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said. “We have to wait to see what the Legislature is going to do.”