Local Projects Get Millions Under Budget : Public finance: Clinton spending plan provides $2.4 million for Channel Islands Harbor dredging. It also funds flood control and parkland acquisition.

WASHINGTON —  President Clinton’s $1.52-trillion budget released Monday contains more than $4.5 million for Ventura County dredging and flood-control projects and $5 million for land acquisition in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, congressional staffers said.

The biggest Army Corps of Engineers project listed in the budget was $2.4 million for dredging Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, said an aide to Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley). The harbor requires dredging every two years to remain open, the aide said.

The Administration’s budget also proposes $1.2 million for dredging of Ventura Harbor. Because of major improvements to the harbor entrance and channel, this should be the last dredging for some time, the staffer said.

Other federal funds targeted for area Corps projects were:

* $500,000 for the Santa Paula Creek flood-control project;

* $300,000 for continuing a survey to widen the channel at Port Hueneme;

* $200,000 for a shoreline study of the Malibu coast.

While the proposed funding for local dredging and flood-control projects was good news, Gallegly issued a statement praising Clinton for proposing hundreds of other federal spending cuts.

“Based on my initial reading of the budget, the Administration admits that federal spending must be reduced, and I welcome the recognition of reality,” Gallegly said. “I am disturbed that a large portion of the savings will simply be spent on other programs. Still this is a step in the right direction.”

But Gallegly disagreed with some proposed reductions. The budget calls for cutting more troops and civilian personnel from the Defense Department, and Gallegly believes that will leave Ventura County naval installations understaffed.

He also criticized deep cuts in Medicare.

“I am deeply troubled that the President wants to cut reimbursements to doctors and hospitals who treat our senior citizens,” Gallegly said.

The proposed $5 million in parkland acquisition funds were particularly welcome because the Administration budgeted no money last year for the purchase of additional property.

“There is very often broad differences between what the Administration recommends and what Congress appropriates (for land acquisition),” said Melissa Kuckro, legislative director for Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), whose district includes Thousand Oaks. “We do not put too much stock one way or the other at this point. While this is no indicator of the final outcome, this is very helpful.”

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There are usually wide differences among lawmakers about how to spend the acquisition money, said Kuckro. “The subcommittees really go their own way on dividing the money among projects,” she said.

Kuckro and other congressional staffers said that a visit to the park by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt last June played an important role in getting the money earmarked.

Babbitt toured parts of the recreation area with Beilenson and Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) and seemed to take a personal interest in the park, Kuckro said.

“This shows that the Administration really wants to keep building the park,” Kuckro said. “Even so, we’ll be asking for more than ($5 million) when it comes up in appropriation in May.”

The Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area is a relative newcomer to the federal system, having been authorized in 1978.

During that time, land prices have been so high in California that Congress has often decided to direct 10% to 20% of the national acquisition budget to the purchase of more land for the Santa Monica Mountains area.

* RELATED STORY: Clinton’s budget cuts 115 programs and trims defense and domestic spending. A1

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Times staff writer Glenn F. Bunting contributed to this article.