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Santa Barbara County weighs sales-tax measure to close multi-year shortfall as jail expansion looms
Summary
County staff presented two sales/use-tax options to close a projected multi-year deficit; supervisors debated whether revenue should fund operations or be used toward a proposed $50 million north-county jail expansion, and public commenters urged alternatives and protections for social services.
Santa Barbara County leaders on Feb. 3 reviewed proposals to place a local sales-and-use tax before voters to help close a projected structural budget shortfall and debated whether those revenues should help pay for a planned north-county jail expansion.
At a presentation to the Board of Supervisors, County executive staff laid out two options: a countywide measure that would continue until rescinded, and a time-limited measure (five years) targeted to unincorporated areas. Staff estimated the time-limited option would generate about $16–17 million per year and described a five-year cumulative projection showing the tax would reduce — but not eliminate — the county’s…
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