City manager urges Oxnard residents to shape priorities as federal and state funding wanes

City Manager Alexander Wyn told neighborhood council members on March 4 that Oxnard is financially stable now but faces mounting state and federal cuts and an uncertain revenue outlook that will make the city ‘‘squeeze more out of what we have.’’ He asked residents to complete a city survey so council members can set five‑year priorities at a meeting at the end of April.

Wyn framed the presentation, titled “Keeping Oxnard safe and self‑reliant,” around what municipal government can reasonably deliver (police, fire, public works, water, libraries and parks) and what it cannot (public schools, airports, county health services). He cited recent service metrics — including 22,518 fire‑department calls in 2024 and an EMS response time of 4 minutes 38 seconds — as evidence the city’s investments in staffing and equipment have improved outcomes.

“Getting there this fast actually results in a good outcome,” Wyn said, urging residents to weigh public‑safety and infrastructure tradeoffs on the survey. He walked attendees through typical tax bills to explain that the city receives roughly 17.6% of property‑tax revenue and a 1% share of the baseline sales tax; local voter‑approved measures add revenue that the state and county cannot reallocate.

Wyn identified three concrete pressures the city is preparing for: the scheduled sunset of Measure O in coming years (the half‑cent local sales tax), a new Costco planned outside Oxnard likely to divert some retail sales, and a state legislative fight over internet‑commerce sales‑tax sharing. He said those dynamics mean the city may need to use more locally collected revenue or consider budget choices in the coming years.

The presentation prompted a lengthy public Q&A. One attendee pressed the city on earlier water‑project delays and alleged $24 million in annual imported water costs; Wyn said Public Works Director Michael Wolf had provided answers to prior inquiries and offered a Public Works presentation at a future neighborhood meeting. A separate exchange questioned fire‑department staffing and apparatus deployment for medical calls; Wyn and others defended the current number of stations and the need for trained crews capable of responding to large or complex incidents.

Wyn concluded by repeating the request that residents complete the online priorities survey ahead of the city council’s April 30 priorities meeting so results can be published in time for council consideration.

What comes next: Wyn and staff committed to follow‑up materials and presentations (Public Works and the police chief) to answer technical questions about water programs, asset‑forfeiture proceeds and response‑time measurement. The city manager also noted the Carnegie Art Museum update will be considered at a special council meeting next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.