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Board adopts 2026–27 recommended budget after weeklong deliberations and targeted restorations
Summary
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors adopted the CEO’s recommended FY 2026–27 budget, embracing a two‑year plan of reductions and limited restorations intended to stabilize a projected structural shortfall while reserving funds for selected capital projects and a youth pilot.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on June 16 to adopt the recommended FY 2026–27 county budget after hours of presentations, public comment and deliberations.
County executive staff and the budget office presented a $1.6 billion operating budget and a multi‑year forecast that showed a continuing structural gap despite restoration of some positions and one‑time funding. Paul Clemtin, the county’s budget director, said the package combines difficult reductions with $7.4 million in targeted restorations to core social services and health programs and one‑time allocations for capital projects.
Clemtin told the board the recommended plan reduces operating costs while preserving essential services and that the county trimmed its five‑year projected deficit through a mix of department‑level reductions and one‑time general fund support. He said the county had restored roughly 148.5 full‑time positions out of 175.5 positions originally requested for restoration.
Board members debated several additions and reallocations before the vote. Supervisors agreed to reserve $600,000 toward the Levi/river road project to make the county more competitive for grant funding and set aside $250,000 in unallocated cannabis revenue to create a youth‑investment pilot (details to be developed and returned to the board for approval).
The motion to adopt the budget, including attachments distributed in the meeting packet, passed unanimously. Later in the session the board also unanimously approved a related motion adopting the successor‑agency budget item for the former redevelopment agency.
The adoption authorizes the CEO and department directors to implement the changes and continue monitoring the fiscal outlook; staff said they will return with additional implementation details and updates as state and federal revenue decisions are finalized.
What happens next: the county will implement transition plans for the affected programs, continue negotiations with labor unions and pursue grant and revenue opportunities to reduce future pressure on the general fund.
