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Santa Barbara County opens budget workshops as CEO warns of structural shortfall
Summary
County CEO Mona Masado and Budget Director Paul Clemente opened multi‑day FY2627 budget workshops saying federal/state changes (HR1) and rising costs create structural deficits, prompting $71M in departmental reductions and a $7.4M targeted restoration package while preserving a $9.5M reserve for FY2728.
Santa Barbara County launched its first day of FY2627 budget workshops on April 13, where county leaders laid out a two‑year strategy to manage a looming structural gap driven largely by changes at the federal and state level. County CEO Mona Masado told the Board that the week’s work is about “a cleareyed discussion, tough decisions, and our shared commitment to a sustainable future,” and that HR1 — changes in federal eligibility and funding rules — is a major driver reshaping safety‑net costs.
Budget Director Paul Clemente presented details of the preliminary forecast, saying departments proposed roughly $71 million in reductions to balance next year. After department requests and CEO…
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