Committee approves advocacy to extend CalSHAPE deadline after Santa Barbara Unified faces $6 million payback risk

Supervisor Cap asked the Legislative Program Committee to advocate for an extension of the CalSHAPE program deadline and for exemption from state architect review, explaining Santa Barbara Unified used roughly $6 million for project design that may not be completed before the program sunset.

"They got $6 million, which is huge, but then... they had all these plans to electrify and put an HVAC for so many of their classrooms yet to try to get it through," Supervisor Cap said, describing how slow state architectural review and utility processes can stall school projects. "So this is merely an extension program. It's not new money. The money is already just sitting in the bank account."

Members noted the program is statewide and that other districts and a large coalition are advocating for the extension. Several members supported adding exemption of state architecture review to the county's advocacy request to avoid lengthy review delays. A county staff member cautioned about limiting the number of advocacy requests in the May Revision, noting the county is engaged on health and human services funding as well.

The committee moved, seconded and voice-voted to authorize county advocacy (a letter and follow-up with state representatives) asking the governor and legislature to include an extension and an exemption for state architect review in the May Revision so districts that already spent design dollars would not have to repay funds.

The transcript records the committee approved the advocacy motion by voice vote; roll-call names and a numerical tally are not recorded in the transcript.