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Board approves Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner proposed $114 million budget; DNA lab, staffing and unfunded mandates highlighted
Summary
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Sheriff-Coroner Office’s proposed 2025–26 budget after a presentation on staffing, capital projects including a county DNA lab, and federal/state unfunded mandates.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Sheriff-Coroner Office’s proposed 2025–26 budget, which requests roughly $114 million in total expenditures and a $74.5 million general fund contribution.
The Sheriff-Coroner, Chris Clark, presented the budget and described priorities that include operating a network of jail facilities, expanding a DNA laboratory, and completing a radio replacement project. He framed the budget around public safety services and said the department’s work ranges from patrol and investigations to jail medical and behavioral health services. “Our mission is to ensure public safety in the county,” Clark said during his presentation.
Why it matters: The sheriff’s budget is the largest single general fund recipient in the county and drives staffing and service levels in law enforcement and corrections. Changes in federal and state…
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