The Ventura County Community College District is expected to be taken off of a statewide fiscal "watch list" under a tentative $118 million general fund budget scheduled to be approved by district trustees Tuesday evening.

The state Community College Chancellor's Office placed the district on the list last year after its reserves fell below 3 percent of the budget. The chancellor's office recommends reserves of at least 5 percent.

Sue Johnson, the district's associate vice chancellor for business services, is projecting reserves of 5.2 percent by Wednesday, the last day of fiscal year 2003-04.

Johnson said the district increased its reserves through a combination of cuts and an influx of money from Sacramento.

The money includes an additional $2.8 million in "equalization" funding for districts that currently receive less than the state average in per-student funds.

The board also is scheduled to ratify an employment contract for Chancellor-designate James Meznek Tuesday night. The board named Meznek chancellor last week. The Barstow College president is scheduled to start work in mid-August.