Sizable City Surplus Aimed at Roadwork

At a time when many local governments are facing budget crunches, Camarillo actually has a sizable surplus.

The general fund reserve is expected to contain nearly $7.6 million this next year and about $1 million more the following year.

And what does the City Council want to do with all this extra cash?

Mostly roadwork.

A top priority is completing the southbound Ventura Freeway offramp at Carmen Street to ease traffic flow to downtown. This project will cost $6 million over the next two years.

The council also discussed replacing the Mission Oaks Bridge--which spans Mission Street--at a budget study session Wednesday. The council must complete its budget negotiations by June 30.

Traffic created from the Flynn Road interchange and a new housing development across from Camarillo High School have heightened the need to replace the deteriorating bridge, Councilman Kevin Kildee said. Planners expect it to cost $3 million over the next two years.

City officials also want to step up a program to seal cracks in city streets with an extra $2.6 million over the next couple of years.

“The streets have been taking a beating and we got a little bit behind schedule,” Kildee said. “With the cable going in for GTE we haven’t done a whole lot of work.”

Although Camarillo has had budget surpluses in previous years, there has never been one this large, the councilman said.

“There’s been more sales tax revenue than what we anticipated,” he said. “As the economy picks up, people go back to work and spend more money and the sales tax revenue brings up the reserves in the general fund.”

Apparently Camarillo’s new factory outlet stores, which Kildee said are responsible for a large chunk of the surplus, are providing people with more than just new clothes.