BUDGET USES MONEY MEANT FOR FINE.

Byline: Andrea Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Ventura County supervisors passed a $1.3 billion budget Tuesday that partially restored proposed cuts to programs ranging from veterans' services to senior nutrition programs.

Supervisors voted unanimously to use $1.5 million set aside to pay a federal penalty to fund a host of programs that faced deep cuts, including services for the homeless, recruiting of foster parents and adoption services. The funding includes $454,000 for a nutrition program for senior citizens and $273,000 to help steer veterans toward federal benefits to which they're entitled.

The $1.5 million would have been the county's share of a fine imposed against the state for failing to comply with federal child-support automation standards.

Supervisors voted to spend the money in hope that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will rescind a decision to pass the fine onto local governments for the first time.

Supervisors voted to spend nearly $220,000 to save jobs of two agricultural inspectors and one planner slated for layoffs - among an estimated 300 county employees who received pink slips as county government wrestled with a $36 million budget shortfall.

The board also voted to use $322,000 in unanticipated property tax revenue to prevent layoffs of two social workers who screen homeless families for shelter services and three mental-health workers.

Andrea Cavanaugh, [phone]

andrea.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com