Board of Supervisors

Meeting Summary

Present: Lee, Capps, Hartmann, Lavagnino, Nelson

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Department officials requested sustained funding for pavement preservation and asset management.
Approximately $40 million in FEMA reimbursements from recent storms remain pending.
Rising commodity costs and oil price volatility present emerging concerns for construction.
Surveyors are shifting focus to billable work to help balance the department budget.

The operating budget includes a $2.3 million General Fund allocation with staffing at 36 FTEs.
Preliminary funding decreased by approximately $150,000 due to reduced licensing mandates.
Staff reported ranking first in the state for invasive pest detections.
Goals include launching trilingual safety cards and maintaining pest prevention standards.

The department proposed a balanced $27.2 million operating budget without using fund balances.
A staffing reduction of 3 FTEs is proposed alongside a request for restoration funding.
Fee schedule changes aim to increase cost recovery, though high fees may impact activity.
Operational updates include launching a Permit Resources Center and transitioning to ePermit Hub.

The operating budget decreased by approximately $4 million with a reduction to 89 FTEs.
Significant deferred maintenance backlogs exist at facilities including Lake Cachuma.
Staff secured a $15 million PUC grant for microgrids and are seeking teams for a ground lease.
Balancing measures include vacant positions in Sustainability and a proposed cut to Library funding.

The department presented a $13.9 million operating budget amidst increased litigation workload.
Staff successfully resolved 82% of damage cases internally to save county money.
Officials anticipate continued increases in litigation costs and potential mid-year adjustments.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors concluded their first day of budget workshops, receiving presentations from Public Works, Agriculture, Planning and Development, Community Services, and the County Council. The session focused on the FY 2026-27 budget proposals, highlighting financial constraints, staffing adjustments, and key operational challenges.

Budget & Funding: Advocated for sustained funding for pavement preservation, deferred maintenance, and asset management. Noted high liability costs, though County Council has helped mitigate claims.
Challenges: Commodity market volatility affects asphalt and construction costs. Global events impacting oil prices are an emerging concern.
FEMA: Approximately $40 million in potential reimbursements pending ($25M transportation, $15M flood control) primarily from 2023-2024 storms. Recovery is slow, and the department is pre-planning for a potential strong El Niño winter with limited federal reliance.
Performance: Pavement Condition Index (PCI) aims to remain at 57, though the deferred maintenance backlog is projected to increase by 7%. Surveyors are shifting focus to billable work to balance the budget.

Budget: Operating budget of $7.7 million with a $2.3 million General Fund allocation. Staffing remains at 36 FTEs.
Reductions: Preliminary budget is down ~$150,000 due to decreased export certification mandates and cannabis licensing contraction.
Achievements: Ranked first in the state for invasive pest detections (360 intercepted) and increased online payment adoption by 10%.
Goals: Launching trilingual safety cards, conducting 60 commercial site inspections, and maintaining pest prevention standards despite fiscal constraints.

Budget: $27.2 million operating budget. Balanced without using fund balances for the first time in years.
Staffing: Proposing a reduction of 3 FTEs (2 in Long-Range Planning, 1 in Petroleum). One restoration request of $134,000 sought for Long-Range Planning priorities.
Cost Recovery: Board-approved fee schedule changes will significantly increase cost recovery, though Chair Nelson noted high fees may be reducing application activity.
Operations: Launching a Permit Resources Center, transitioning to ePermit Hub, and streamlining ordinances to increase ministerial permits.

Budget: $58.6 million operating budget (down ~$4 million). Staffing reduced from 99.3 to 89 FTEs. Proposes using $485,000 in one-time fund balance.
Parks & Infrastructure: Parks attendance returning to pre-COVID levels. Significant deferred maintenance backlog ($76 million total), particularly at Lake Cachuma which requires multi-million dollar infrastructure investment for water/wastewater.
Housing & Sustainability: Successfully secured a $15 million PUC grant for microgrids in Isla Vista. Seeking a development team for a ground lease project at the former probation building.
Balancing Measures: Vacant positions in Sustainability and Housing; using 18% funds to protect Parks maintenance staffing; proposing a 4% cut to Library per capita funding.

Budget: $13.9 million operating budget.
Strategy: Increased workload due to federal regulations and litigation. Successfully saving county money by handling more cases in-house rather than using outside counsel (resolved 82% of damage cases internally).
Outlook: Anticipating continued increases in litigation costs; may request mid-year funding adjustments if workload intensifies.

Racial Equity Fund: Representatives from the Santa Barbara Asian American Pacific Islander Solidarity Network and the NAACP urged the Board to maintain funding and support for the Racial Equity Fund, arguing it supports grassroots community building better than direct county administration.
Libraries: The Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation emphasized the library's role as a safety net for vulnerable populations during budget cuts.

The meeting adjourned with the Board scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday, April 15th, for the second day of budget workshops.