Budget for Colleges Calls for Deep Cuts : Education: Plan expected to be approved for district contains no layoffs.

The Ventura County Community College District Board tonight is expected to adopt a tentative budget for next fiscal year that calls for deep cuts in maintenance and supplies, but avoids laying off any employees or dropping any course offerings.

“We’re not going to cut any more classes, we’re not laying people off,” said Board President Gregory P. Cole. “We’re asking our employees to work harder.”

The tentative budget is based on a district projection that revenues from the state will be reduced 2.2% compared to last fiscal year, officials said.

The board also will consider a proposal to pass a revised budget in September if necessary, depending on whether state legislators cut more than anticipated. The board will vote on cutting 3% from its $62.5 million operating budget, with the option of approving additional cuts of 2%, 4% or 6% later if the state withholds more funds.

Layoffs and class cuts may occur if the state cuts amount to more than 2.2%, district officials said.

“We’re keeping our options open,” Cole said.

Last year, district officials slashed about $2 million when the budget was adopted without layoffs or class cuts. This year, $1.8 million in cuts is being proposed, mostly in maintenance and supply costs.

The board will also consider cutting travel, utilities, equipment repair, postage, printing, new equipment purchases and capital improvements.

Under the proposed tentative 1993-94 budget, Moorpark College would receive $19.6 million, $723,000 less than last year. Ventura College would receive $20.7 million, $1.6 million less than in the 1992-93 budget. Oxnard College would receive $11 million, $912,000 less than last year. The district office, which has a budget of $3.9 million, would be cut $556,000.

About 80% of the district budget comes from state funding, officials said. The rest comes largely from local revenues.

“The 3% cut represents the most favorable scenario at the present time,” district Budget Director Harry Colada said. Gov. Pete Wilson has proposed slashing funding to community colleges by 11%.

In a move to save money, the board in April cut 300 classes from its offerings for this summer and next school year. The cuts amounted to more than 3% of the 8,000 courses offered at the three campuses each year. It was the first time since Proposition 13 was passed in 1978 that the 31,000-student district has had to eliminate classes.

District officials have also initiated an early-retirement program to save money, and hope to persuade staff and faculty unions to freeze or reduce salaries. Other ideas to generate money include charging students a materials fee for some classes.

Colada said 36 employees--13 faculty and 23 staff--are retiring early, which will save the district about $600,000. Most of their positions will not be filled, he said. The district employs about 40 managers, 450 non-teaching staff members, 400 full-time and 675 part-time instructors.

Elise Schneider, president at Oxnard College, said, “It’s not going to be fun, but we’re going to do the best we can with the dollars we have. We’re having very difficult times. We don’t have any fat right now, so any cuts will hurt us.”