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Santa Barbara supervisors pause plan to place 1¢ unincorporated sales tax on June ballot after public debate
Summary
County staff outlined two options for a 1¢ sales tax in unincorporated Santa Barbara County to help close a projected multi‑year budget shortfall; after detailed presentations, public testimony and board deliberations the Board took no action to place the measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot.
Deputy County Executive Officer Britney Oderman presented a proposal Feb. 3 for a transactions-and-use tax — a 1¢ increase in the unincorporated county sales tax — to address an ongoing multi‑year budget shortfall.
"We are today presenting two options for a 1¢ sales tax, a general purpose sales tax in the unincorporated county for a limited term of 5 years," Oderman told the Board, describing an alternative that would instead run until ended by voters. Staff estimated raising the unincorporated rate from 7.75% to 8.75% would generate roughly $16.7 million a year and about $80 million over five years.
Budget Director Paul Clemente framed the scale of the need. He said the county faces a projected ongoing cumulative deficit that begins at about $23 million in fiscal year 2026–27 and could reach an ongoing $66.4…
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