Santa Barbara County Forecasts Budget Challenges For Next Five Years
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County Board Of Supervisors received a budget forecast for the next five fiscal years at this morning’s meeting in Santa Maria.
As one supervisor said during the meeting this morning, this is a sobering picture of the county’s future, but they expressed appreciation that this was brought to their attention as early as it was.
A projected five-year deficit of more than $66 million affects some of the revenue that supports key safety net services such as Medi-Cal and CalFresh, making coverage reductions necessary while increasing costs.
“We see the $23 million deficit starting next year, more than doubling in 2728 and then growing incrementally, incrementally from there to the total $66.4 million cumulative deficit by the end,” says Paul Clementi, Santa Barbara County Budget Director.
The strain is the result of impacts from federal changes as well as state budget cuts in response.
“We’re really in a situation where we have to make some very difficult choices,” says Joan Hartmann, Santa Barbara County Supervisor.
To address the challenges, a new budget balancing framework has been proposed, which looks to reduce some budgetary items, increase efficiency, develop new options for generating revenue, and implement strategic use of reserves.
“There’s going to be cuts somewhere, and I think that’s probably the message that people need to understand here,” says Bob Nelson, Santa Barbara County Supervisor.
A figure of $50 million is earmarked for the expansion of the northern branch jail.
“And as well, we have continuing state mandates, jail settlement that is requiring us to add more beds at the Northern branch jail,” says Mona Miyasato, County Executive Officer.
Some locals say data shows the jail’s expansion constitutes overbuilding, and that those funds could be used to offset the projected deficit.
“We can reduce the jail daily population by up to a potential 128 people or more, eliminating the need for the extra half jail housing unit,” says Maureen Earls, representing CLUE Santa Barbara. “That would save 44 million and construction costs and reduce long term debt and operating costs by millions each year.”
Moving forward, critical safety net services are to be prioritized and additional savings measures will be introduced in the coming months.
“There’ll be a lot of things on the chopping block for me before it comes to child welfare,” says Steve Lavagnino, Santa Barbara County Supervisor.
The board will be making budget decisions for the fiscal year of 2026 to 27 in April.
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