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Santa Barbara staff propose balanced use of Measure I revenue; housing advocates press for larger housing allocation
Summary
City staff briefed the Santa Barbara City Council on options for spending Measure I sales-tax revenue—estimated at about $15.1 million annually—and recommended restoring some frozen positions, preserving library hours and setting aside $1–$2 million a year for the Local Housing Trust Fund as the starting approach.
City staff briefed the Santa Barbara City Council on Jan. 28 on options for spending revenues from Measure I, the half-cent sales tax the city’s voters approved in November 2024. City Administrator Kelly McAdoo and Finance Director Demartini told the council Measure I is projected to generate about $15.1 million a year and that including it in the fiscal-year 2026 forecast would turn a previously projected $10.7 million operating shortfall into an estimated $4.4 million surplus.
The staff presentation framed the tax as intended to “maintain essential local services” and recommended three parallel uses if council wants to preserve current service levels: restore certain frozen positions (including several police positions), continue expanded library hours previously funded by one-time federal dollars, and…
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