County OKs Balanced Budget Without Cuts

For the first time this decade, Ventura County leaders on Monday adopted a balanced budget that did not require reductions in programs or personnel.

The $918-million spending plan, approved with little dispute following a series of budget hearings, will actually bolster the county payroll by more than 200 positions, most of them in public safety or welfare reform.

But most departments are staying at or near their staffing levels, with the increases coming for the most part in departments that have generated more money through state grants or other outside sources.

Ventura County currently has 5,993 full-time employees. That number will grow to 6,208 employees under the 1998-99 spending plan.

The county’s general fund, which makes up roughly 60% of the overall budget, is projected to have a $34-million increase in revenue compared with the previous year’s budget. That, combined with $13 million left over from the 1997-98 budget, helped the general fund grow from $521 million to $561 million in the fiscal year that begins next month.

In addition to the general fund, the county budget includes special funds for fire protection, libraries and roads, among other things.

After draining the county reserves during lean years earlier this decade, county officials are looking to replenish those funds. As a result, general fund reserves will increase from $5 million to $23 million.

On Monday, county leaders spent the afternoon poring over the budget’s final version and listening to arguments from department heads requesting additional programs and personnel.

They then reconvened in the evening and briefly discussed the various proposals before adopting a budget that was largely the same as proposed.

Supervisors did fund some new projects, including authorizing six more positions for the district attorney’s office and two extra positions for the public defender’s office. The money for the extra eight positions will come from Proposition 172 funds, which are intended for public safety use.

Other projects were not so lucky, but may receive funding in October when the Board of Supervisors meets to discuss an anticipated increase in revenue.

County Auditor Tom Mahon and Chief Administrative Office Lin Koester based the budget in part on a projected 5% increase in property tax assessments. But the increase could be higher. Koester calculates that the county could receive $2 million to $3 million in extra property tax revenue this fall.

“This October thing is a really good idea,” joked Supervisor John Flynn.

“Too bad we can’t put off the entire budget until October--like the state does,” responded Supervisor Judy Mikels.