FILLMORE : School District, City May Share Campus

Fillmore Unified School District officials hope to relieve some of their budget woes by sharing a new middle school campus with the city.

During a joint meeting Wednesday, Fillmore City Council members told the school board that they would consider splitting the cost of maintaining the campus if the city can use the property part time as a park.

Supt. Marlene Davis told city officials that the school district could not afford to hire staff to maintain the gymnasium, pavilion and playing fields that are under construction west of A Street near 1st Street.

To balance its 1991-92 budget, the school district plans to cut programs. But employees will get no cost-of-living wage increases and will pay for some of their health benefits. “It’s regrettable, but necessary. We’re balancing the budget on the backs of our employees,” Davis said.

City Manager Roy Payne told school officials that redevelopment money could be used to maintain the school grounds if the property were also considered a city park.

The city also has budget problems, Payne said, although its redevelopment funds are stable enough to take on new projects.

The general fund is expected to fall to a three-year low of $57,000 by June, “about $150,000 less than we had planned,” Payne said.

He blamed the shortfall on a lack of new development in the city and increased costs such as Ventura County’s new jail booking fee.

Payne said Fillmore’s budget must be trimmed about 10% for 1991-92, which could mean some employees will be laid off.

The school and city officials hope to reach an agreement on joint use of the middle school at their next meeting in July.