Officials say the county is healthy

Thanks to forethought and planning, Ventura County is in sound fiscal health, two county officials told business and city leaders at the State of the County address at Camarillo's Sterling Hills Golf Club on Oct. 24.

Streamlining operations in many of the county's 26 agencies has saved millions of dollars in energy costs and contributed to a greener environment, Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long said.

"Fortunately we took steps years ago to have sound structure, so we're sound," Long said. "We know over the next couple of years we're going to have rocky times. But we're in good shape."

The county took "drastic action" several years ago in laying off 120 employees and eliminating hundreds of positions, a move that's put it on "sound fiscal footing" today, said Chief Executive Officer Marty Robinson, who replaced Johnny Johnston in April. Robinson, a county employee for more than 25 years, rose through the ranks to become the county's first female top executive.

"We're in the best position possible to deal with the reality we're going to face right now," Robinson said, referring to the recently adopted state budget.

Aware of the uncertainty of state funding, county administrators have been careful not to hire people they might have to lay off months later, Robinson said. As a result, no layoffs are anticipated, she said.

On Friday, Robinson said she would ask the board of supervisors next month to cut 50 vacant job positions. But on Monday she said the county needs to eliminate only 10 to 12 positions, although more job cuts could come later depending on the state's financial situation.

"Next year's a whole new ball game," Robinson said Monday. "It's not going to be a pretty picture next year."

Ventura County is a $1.64billion operation that runs hospitals, clinics, airports, jails and various other agencies.

Despite the large budget, the board of supervisors has discretion over a fraction of that amount— less than $74 million, Robinson said. Much of the budget is earmarked for specific purposes, as required by the state or federal government, or committed to hospitals, public safety and the like, she said.

The county is committed, nonetheless, to living within its means, Robinson said. If money remains after expenses are paid, the county puts it in a reserve account. The goal is to have a 15 percent reserve on hand, and the county is nearly halfway there, Robinson said.

Revenue from sales tax was down substantially last year, and this year the county received only 3 percent more in property taxes, Robinson said. Despite that, the county has been able to provide the same number and level of services it did last year, she said.

The county faces other challenges. The countysponsored retirement account didn't generate the 8 percent in revenue officials had hoped for last year but instead posted a loss, Robinson said. If the decline continues over the next several years, the county may have to make up the difference, which could amount to millions of dollars, Robinson said.

In addition, county jails must expand to meet the projected population for 2011. Robinson said it will cost Ventura County $32 million to build enough jail space, although funding resources are unlikely to increase proportionately.

"It will be a struggle," Robinson said.

To alleviate overcrowding now, Long said the county is exploring alternatives such as privatizing jails and ankle-bracelet monitoring for lowlevel offenders.

"We can't build our way out of this incarceration problem," Long said, adding the public will be invited to a meeting early next year on the county jails that will include law enforcement and elected officials.

Asked by an audience member about the possibility that a prison hospital will replace the youth correctional facility in Camarillo, Long said Ventura County and all 10 cities oppose the proposal.

Following numerous lawsuits against the state for providing inadequate healthcare to prison inmates, a federal judge established the receiver's office and charged it with fixing the state's prison healthcare system.

To do that, Federal Receiver J. Clark Kelso plans to build seven medical facilities across the state at a combined cost of $8 billion. Each site would house 1,500 or more high-risk state prisoners.

In the short term, the prison hospital could mean more construction jobs, but in the long run the county is likely to lose medical professionals—doctors and nurses who are already in short supply—to the higherpaying state, Long said.

"This would have a severe impact on our work force," she said.

What's more, the prison hospital may have a negative impact on county law enforcement, the environment and state taxpayers, Long said.

The public is invited to voice concerns about the proposed prison hospital at a meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Thurs., Nov. 13 at the Camarillo Community Center.