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Santa Maria adopts CDBG priorities for FY 2026–27, reserves capital funds for sports complex
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to adopt Community Development Block Grant funding priorities for fiscal year 2026–27 and recommended reserving most capital CDBG funding for a city public-facility project, continuing a multi-year allocation to the Santa Maria Sports Complex.
The Santa Maria City Council on Sept. 16 adopted a resolution accepting the Block Grants Advisory Committee’s recommended funding priorities for fiscal year 2026–27 and approved reserving most Community Development Block Grant capital funding for a city public-facility project, including a third year of funding proposed for the Santa Maria Sports Complex.
Community Programs Manager Rosie Rojo told the council the Block Grants Advisory Committee reviewed unmet needs identified in the city’s five-year consolidated plan and community input gathered at a July 14 workshop. The priorities the council adopted include preventing homelessness and addressing critical needs; assisting at-risk youth, the elderly and underserved populations; expanding education and development opportunities; and providing affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Rojo noted priorities were not ranked in order of importance.
Rojo recommended reserving most FY 2026–27 CDBG capital funds for city public-facility projects serving low- and moderate-income residents, and specifically asked the council to continue funding the Santa Maria Sports Complex for a third year. She noted historically about half of CDBG capital funds supported nonprofits but that HUD rules allow cities to allocate capital funding to city projects that meet community needs.
Council members asked staff about CDBG funding stability and the sports complex price tag. Rojo said staff has had steady communication with HUD contacts in the Los Angeles field office and deferred the sports-complex total-cost question to Recreation and Parks staff, who said the project estimate has grown from an earlier $12 million figure to roughly $17–18 million.
After closing the public hearing and taking no additional public comment, the council approved the item on a roll-call vote recorded as unanimous.
Votes at a glance Resolution adopting CDBG FY 2026–27 funding priorities and approving use of CDBG capital funds for a city public-facility project (recommendation to continue Santa Maria Sports Complex funding): approved (unanimous).
