05.29.2020: Finance, Audit and Budget Subcommittee Meeting

The City of Ventura Finance, Audit and Budget Subcommittee met May 29, 2020, to review the proposed FY2020–21 budget amid COVID-19 revenue losses. The proposed citywide budget was $290.9 million, about $10 million below the prior year, with an $11.1 million projected General Fund shortfall. Staff outlined a mix of measures, including freezing or eliminating 35 General Fund positions to save about $3.5 million, reducing General Fund support for outside agencies by $1 million, and limiting the planned increase to internal service funds by $300,000, while still providing a $1.3 million increase for those funds. The proposal also included using $400,000 in CDBG funds toward the homeless shelter and nearly $600,000 from Measure O for identified one-time expenses. No subcommittee votes or contract awards were recorded; the proposed budget was scheduled for City Council review June 1 and adoption June 29.

Capital and procurement-related discussion included a roughly $60 million capital improvement program for the current fiscal year, with slightly lower proposed project funding for the next year, concentrated in water, wastewater, streets and transportation. Public Works was developing an RFP to procure a contractor for a study related to the street-light assessment district; no solicitation award or contractor selection was discussed. The committee also discussed proposed funding for technology hardware and software, stormwater compliance studies, and other operating needs. Members raised questions about the ongoing nature of a proposed Measure O street-light subsidy and requested further detail on agency contributions and service impacts; these discussions did not result in recorded procurement actions.