Oversight board approves administrative budgets for Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura

The Ventura County Consolidated Oversight Board on Oct. 22 approved administrative budgets submitted by the successor agencies for the cities of Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura, voting 4-0 on each proposal.

Board members approved the four budgets after brief presentations from city staff. The approvals cover routine administrative costs for the successor agencies as they manage remaining wind‑down obligations.

Deborah Cabaletto, finance director for the City of Fillmore, said the city was requesting $58,117, the same amount presented at the board's September meeting. "We do not have a PowerPoint presentation today, but we are asking that the amount that was presented in the September meeting is the amount that we're gonna be requesting for dollars. It is $58,117," Cabaletto said.

Jessica Sandifer, deputy parks and recreation director for the City of Moorpark, told the board Moorpark’s submission is unchanged from September: a $50,000 request that includes about $34,000 for salaries and other administrative costs. "Total budget requesting is for $50,000 including, $34,000 in the salary and, other administrative cost," Sandifer said.

Annie Jensen of the City of Oxnard’s city manager’s office said Oxnard had no changes from its September proposed administrative budget. "We have no changes from the proposed administrative budget that we presented in September," Jensen said.

Heather Bowling, senior management analyst for the City of Ventura, said Ventura reduced its requested budget by roughly 25 percent to $61,792. Bowling said the city cut labor costs by $17,921 and legal services by $5,000, while increasing internal service charges to reflect a pending rate study. "Overall, we are requesting $61,792, which is a decrease of about 25 percent from when we are here in September," Bowling said.

Votes at a glance

- City of Fillmore administrative budget — Motion to approve made and seconded; motion passes 4-0. - City of Moorpark administrative budget — Motion to approve made and seconded; motion passes 4-0. - City of Oxnard administrative budget — Motion to approve made and seconded; motion passes 4-0. - City of Ventura administrative budget — Motion to approve made and seconded; motion passes 4-0.

The board was told staff expects the next round of ROPS (Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule) work to be scheduled for January and that Santa Paula's final dissolution paperwork remains pending. Staff indicated those items will appear at future meetings.

The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for January, when staff said it will bring updates on the ROPS calendar and related items.