44 VACANT FULL-TIME POSITIONS TO BE CUT.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

Ventura County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to eliminate 44 vacant full-time positions, which will help chip away at a forecasted $20 million deficit next fiscal year.

The $3.8 million in savings will help head off a crisis in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

``What remains to be done is four times greater than what we've done today,'' Chief Administrative Officer John Johnston told the board. ``There's about 160 positions with the potential to be eliminated to balance the budget, unless we are successful in raising revenue.''

Johnston also warned supervisors that the severity of Sacramento's money woes could offset Tuesday's action by making state money much less reliable.

Assistant Public Defender Duane Dammeyer said eliminating 16 vacant positions in the probation department means closing down a wing in the work furlough program, losing 40 to 55 beds.

Inmates could lose their jobs and could end up costing more if they have to return to jail and their families go on welfare, he said.

Assessor Dan Goodwin, whose office will lose five positions, said the cuts would cause talent to leave and result in ``eroding returns'' for the department that handles property taxes.

Supervisor Frank Schillo, however, countered that the Assessor's Office has averaged seven vacant positions over the past five years.

``I don't think five (cuts) are going to jeopardize or should jeopardize the revenue production of your department,'' Schillo said.