The Ventura County Board of Education dropped two lobbying firms, according to this report, citing costs.

After more than a year and a half and $396,000, the Ventura County Board of Education voted Friday to terminate its contracts with two lobbying firms, with trustees saying they have not seen enough return on their investment.

The county board hired Capitol Venture of Sacramento and Anchor Consulting of Alexandria, Va., in April 2007 — a move that has since been criticized as reckless by Trustee Mary Louise Peterson and called a waste of taxpayer dollars by others.