Report Urges Hike in Funding for SCAT

After much controversy, Oxnard city staff is recommending the City Council approve a funding increase sought by South Coast Area Transit, which operates west county transit programs.

The city’s staff report, released Friday, says that the City Council should approve $2.19 million, or $216,000 more than the council originally authorized in March.

The recommendation comes after Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez went against the unanimous vote of the City Council and agreed last week to give SCAT the funding hike it requested during a meeting of the transit agency’s board. Lopez, Oxnard’s representative on that board, said he was pleased with the city staff’s recommendation.

“I think it’s a needed increase because there was a change in information from the time the City Council discussed it last time to when I made the decision with SCAT. I think the higher amount is a fair assessment.”

Because Lopez was the swing vote on the SCAT board, the city of Ventura will also be forced to approve a funding hike to the transit agency. Ventura and Oxnard had upheld funding after voicing concern about a lack of efficiency in SCAT’s budget.

“The city of Oxnard is not only making a $216,000 decision, but also a $260,000 decision for the city of Ventura at the same time,” said Tom Mericle, Ventura’s transportation engineer.

Ventura City Councilman Jim Friedman said he still believes SCAT should get less funding.

“I’m not overly happy about Oxnard’s decision,” he said. “I’m not going to stomp and scream, but I’ll be watching very closely six months from now to see if we do in fact have a better service.”