Fact or fiction on the budget?

The Ojai Voice frequently runs columns by an acerbic critic of what he calls "the Gang in the Ivory Tower." His latest lambastes the City for spending $170,000 to erect three monuments in the Hobson Heights Neighborhood. The real number was actually $21,800 (the handsome tile work of artist Michael Kelly was donated by the neighborhood.) Which means the example in the photo cost each resident of Ventura a little less than seven cents.

Some critics aren't interested in facts that get in the way of their obsession that the City of Ventura wastes money. Lots of it. Some have a political agenda. Some are just math challenged. But it is a myth repeated so often that it takes on a life of its own.

They cite various controversies that over the years have made for some interesting newspaper stories. Perhaps the biggest favorite is "public art." Take the infamous "Bus Home" at the mall. Please. It's been five years since it was built, but it still rankles some as a symbol of idiotic spending.

For the sake of argument, let's say that every penny of federal, state and local transit matching funds used for the project was totally wasted. That year, Ventura spent $134,933,000 on everything from responding to 911 calls to supplying safe drinking water to every household and business. To put the cost of "Bus Home" in perspective, if the money spent on it was the height of a fire hydrant, the total spending that year was taller than the Empire State Building. Or if the total spending that year was compared to a 24 hour day, Bus Home would be about a minute.

Okay, maybe it's just a tiny proportion of city spending, but the critics maintain it is just the tip of the wasteful spending iceberg. What about paying severence pay to the ex-City Manager? Different year, same tiny proportion. What about the loan the city provided me to buy a home when I became City Manager? They never acknowledge that I'm obligated to pay it all back, plus market appreciation. What about the Community Park? Yes, that did cost a lot of money, but the citizens voted to build it -- and raised $1 million in private funds to help pay for it. Plus, have you noticed how many people are using it every day?

We could go back and forth down the list. But in the end, the real test is not whether someone can find something to fume over. After all, we live in a democracy. The objective standard is whether the City is providing exceptional value for taxpayers. On that score, the evidence is clear.

Here is the breakdown of what it costs per resident per day for next year's budget recommendations:

• 73 cents for Police (911, patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement etc.)
• 46 cents for Fire (Fire and medical emergency response, disaster preparedness, fire prevention, building permits etc.)
• 38 cents for Public Works (Street paving, park and street tree maintenance, engineering, storm drainage, environmental services etc.)
• 33 cents for General Government (Computer systems, revenue collection, financial, personnel and legal services, City Council, etc.
• 17 cents for Community Services (Youth and senior recreation, social services, Olivas Adobe, Albinger Museum, special events, cultural support etc.)
• 9 cents Community Development(Citywide and area planning, regulation of new development)
• 9 cents Citywide Contractual Obligations (Payments to the County and other agencies, beach parking structure, public safety matching grants, budget contingency fund etc.)
• 8 cents Capital Improvements (Debt service on Community Park, renovation of City Hall, installation of solar panels, etc.)

The total is $2.33 per resident, per day. Less than a cup of Starbucks coffee. By any standard, that's a bargain. In fact, in a study of comparable cities done last year by the City of San Luis Obispo, Ventura was second lowest in per capita spending overall and sixth out of nine in per capita General Fund spending. We were seventh out of nine in General Fund staffing per capita. A study done in 2003 of 20 comparable cities by an independent firm showed similar results: Ventura was 11th out of 20 in per capita general fund expenditures and tied for 12th out of 20 on General Fund staffing per capita.

Of course, for those who disdain government, who distrust City Hall and who believe that nothing ever changes, there is nothing we can say that will change their minds. But do the math. When you think of what you can buy for $2.33, Ventura City government represents lower prices, everyday. Hey, does that sound familiar?