Santa Barbara County adopts FY 2026–27 budget with restorations for safety‑net programs and targeted one‑time investments

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2026–27 recommended budget on June 16 after a full day of departmental presentations, public comment and board deliberations.

County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato framed the budget as an exercise in "responsible stewardship," noting the county reduced its operating budget for the first time in more than a decade to respond to structural pressures. Budget Director Paul Clemente said the county had reduced its five‑year projected deficit from $66.4 million to $21.6 million through workshop actions and restorations. The recommended budget includes $7.4 million in ongoing general‑fund support targeted to social services and county health and allocates $51.9 million in countywide reductions. Staff said the recommended budget preserves 148.5 funded FTE restored after workshops but the adopted budget still reflects about 299.2 fewer funded FTE than the prior year.

The Board debated several highly visible items during deliberations:

- Public safety: The sheriff’s office identified a required $4.9 million reduction under a flat general‑fund guidance, which staff said would require eliminating positions and resulted in a proposal to reduce certain patrol and foot‑patrol coverage (Isla Vista foot patrol among affected units). The sheriff’s office explained options were limited because major portions of its budget are salary‑driven and some functions are legally mandated (court protection, jail operations). Supervisors pressed for metrics and asked staff to explore alternative funding sources and phased approaches; the Board set aside $812,000 as a sheriff contingency for later allocation.

- Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU) manager: The Board preserved a BSU manager position in the sheriff’s office but asked staff to maximize available BHSA funding; county staff advised that roughly 25 percent of the BSU manager’s duties fit BHSA categories (CIT/co‑response and workforce training) and the remainder are public safety duties that cannot be wholly funded by BHSA without changing the role.

- Warrant officer and backlog: The county has pursued a multi‑agency effort to reduce a large warrant backlog. A one‑time warrant officer provided measurable results in clearing warrants; Board members supported maintaining the position short‑term and asked for clearer metrics on arrests and impact. The Board expressed appetite for funding models that avoid long‑term general‑fund commitments where possible.

- One‑time investments and set‑asides: Attachment A1 of the CEO’s recommendations includes several one‑time actions such as a film commissioner pilot ($150,000 from cannabis revenue), a second rural crime deputy, co‑response teams, and a county attorney funded for in‑house litigation capacity to reduce outside counsel costs. After discussion the Board agreed to: 1) adopt the CEO recommended budget as presented; 2) set aside $250,000 for a youth funding initiative to be returned to the Board this summer with implementation details and possible administration options (including the Fund for Santa Barbara’s Youth Making Change program); and 3) designate approximately $600,000 (balance of a prior settlement fund) to support the Santa Maria/Levee trail project pending County Counsel confirmation of eligible use.

Supervisors emphasized the human impacts of layoffs and thanked HR and departmental staff for transition support; Human Resources staff reported the anticipated layoffs have been reduced through workshops and turnover from earlier projections and that the county continues to run targeted job fairs and counseling for affected employees.

The Board voted to adopt the budget and the successor agency budget unanimously. Chair Terrence Nelson thanked staff and adjourned the meeting.