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Isla Vista board says UCSB contribution will be roughly $200,000; authorizes up to $187,000 from reserves to cover shortfalls
Summary
At a board meeting of the Isla Vista Community Services District, staff told directors that the district now expects about $200,000 from the University of California, Santa Barbara next year, down from the $440,000 figure used in the current budget.
At a board meeting of the Isla Vista Community Services District, staff told directors that the district now expects about $200,000 from the University of California, Santa Barbara next year, down from the $440,000 figure used in the current budget. The board voted to authorize using up to $187,000 from the district’s fund balance to cover this year’s shortfall while staff pursue negotiations and program reviews.
The drop in the UCSB contribution leaves the district with more planned expenditures than incoming revenue for the current fiscal year. Staff asked for board direction on whether to continue paying for existing programs through the end of the year, or to curtail services now. “We do need direction on how to go forward with that,” a staff member told the board, noting the district would otherwise spend reserves, which requires board approval.
Board members focused discussion on three programs most affected by the reduced contribution: the interpersonal violence investigator (a detective-level position contracted through university policing), summer safety stations, and the move-out program. Staff said about $62,000 remains to be paid to close out contracts for May and June; later in the discussion staff explained the shortfall that the board would need to cover could total up to $187,000 if negotiations with UCSB do not change the outcome. Staff and directors repeatedly said they are still negotiating with UCSB and may be able to reduce the net gap for fiscal year 2024–25.
Several directors said the interpersonal violence investigator should be reviewed before committing more money. One director questioned whether the single-investigator model added value or merely paid for capacity already provided by the sheriff and campus detectives. Another director defended the original intent of the investigator position as creating a single point of contact for survivors to reduce case handoffs, and said a program review from UCPD will be requested.
Directors also discussed alternatives including seeking county participation, shifting responsibilities to IV Safe (a coordinating body of local agencies), and exploring grants or other revenue sources to reduce use of reserves. Staff said the immediate split of the near-term $62,000 obligation is roughly $30,000 for the investigator, $20,000 for the move-out program and about $7,000 for safety stations; staff asked the board whether to finish contracts through the fiscal year while pursuing a program review.
After further discussion the board made and seconded a motion to authorize use of fund balance to cover shortfalls up to $187,000. The motion passed; the board performed a roll-call vote and the chair declared the motion approved.
The board directed staff and the finance committee to continue negotiations with UCSB, to bring a program review of the interpersonal violence investigator (including UCPD reporting) to a future meeting, and to report back with options for reducing the fund balance draw, including grant opportunities and partner contributions.
The board’s decision authorizes spending from reserves but does not change long‑term policy for next fiscal year; staff said next-year allocations will be made after the finance committee meets and after continued negotiating with UCSB.
