Layoffs of 27 County Firefighters Approved : Government: Supervisors also OK closure of four fire stations as funding cuts loom.

Following an emotional debate, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Thursday voted to lay off 27 firefighters and 29 civilians and to close four stations to offset expected losses in state funding.

Although members of the firefighters union pleaded with the supervisors to wait until they adopt the county’s entire budget before making any reductions, the board members said a delay could only force more layoffs.

With Supervisor John K. Flynn casting the only opposing vote, the supervisors approved a plan to close fire stations from Camarillo to the Ojai Valley and to thin firefighters’ ranks countywide by July 4--saving nearly $3.8 million. Although no fire stations were targeted in the east county, other cutbacks are expected in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley during the next round of reductions.

“This is one of the most painful moments that we’ve had since I’ve been on the board,” Supervisor Vicky Howard said, choking back tears. “We have to come face to face with the decision that we would all like to postpone.

“I have to tell you what I think the state is going to do. I don’t know the exact numbers, but they are going to hurt us very badly. Clearly there will be very painful cuts in all the (county) departments.”

After the decision, about 40 firefighters quietly filed out of the meeting room. A few were crying. Others were angry.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Rick Bell, a firefighter who is on the layoff list. “I’ve seen so much government waste, yet they are going to cut people.”

Firefighter Mike Milkovich, who also is on the list, added: “I’ve got young children I’ve got to care about. I’ve got to go beat the streets and find something. They (the supervisors) shed their tears . . . but they’ve still got their jobs.”

County officials said the cutbacks may be just beginning. They said the department may eventually be forced to close as many as 18 stations and lay off more than 260 firefighters and civilians if Gov. Pete Wilson succeeds in his plan to reduce support to local government by $2.6 billion.

Although officials predict that the Fire Department could lose up to $20 million of its $43-million budget under the governor’s plan, County Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon said the actual cut could be about $10 million.

“To be perfectly honest, we just don’t know,” Mahon said. “Trying to come up with decent figures is absolutely impossible. There are so many different scenarios played out at the state level.”

In any case, the supervisors agreed that they will undoubtedly have to make some cuts, and they decided to proceed with the $3.8-million reduction immediately.

“We should allow the chief to move ahead with the reductions now,” Supervisor Maggie Kildee said. “If we don’t do that, we will have to make deeper cuts later on. . . . I don’t know how we are going to skate by and excuse any agency from cuts based on the kind of financial situation California finds itself in.”

Lund, who had recommended an early decision, said layoff notices will be sent out to employees by Saturday.

“If we did not make any cuts and we continue operations as usual, we could be impacted to the tune of $2.5 million a month that we don’t have,” Lund said. “That’s why I took it to the board. I was afraid that if I didn’t take it to the board, the cuts would be worse because of it.

“My goal was to do the least amount of damage. I hope we don’t have to go beyond this. But I think there is a very real possibility we will be making more cuts.”

Under the plan adopted Thursday that would result in a net loss of four stations, the department will:

* Close fire stations at Camarillo Airport and on Las Posas Road in Camarillo and reassign some staff to a temporary station near the Ventura Freeway and Las Posas Road.

* Close Station 26 in Saticoy and temporarily shut down Station 24 at the north end of Ventura Avenue. Emergency calls would be handled by the Ventura City Fire Department on a contract basis until the Ventura Avenue station can be reopened.

* Close fire stations in Oak View and Meiners Oaks and eventually reassign their staffs to the Ventura Avenue station.

* Cut staff on ladder trucks from four firefighters to three.

* Eliminate a hazardous materials company and assign Moorpark Station 40 to such duty.

If necessary, Lund said, he will ask the board to consider a second phase of cutbacks--laying off another 33 firefighters and closing another station to save $2.9 million.

Lund said he hopes the county will implement an early retirement program, possibly reducing future layoffs.

Supervisor Flynn urged his fellow board members to hold off on approving the layoffs and station closures until the county has more information on how much can be saved through early retirements and salary reductions.

“There are some other decisions that we have to make first before we start talking about cutting,” Flynn said. “We ought to come up with a budget that does not close any fire stations. I think we can do that.”

Ken Maffei, president of the Ventura County Professional Firefighters’ Assn., agreed:

“It’s premature at this time. Don’t cut county services at all until we have a clear and complete budget from the state.”

But Supervisor Susan K. Lacey said: “No one up here wants to do this. . . . I don’t see a choice.”