Meeting Summary
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At a glance
Budget Adjustments and CEO Remarks
- Staff presented new budget adjustments including consultant fees for mental health reviews, grant reallocations, and fund transfers for homeless services.
- The CEO outlined an $828 million balanced budget with staffing reduced to 3,800 FTEs and discretionary revenue shifted toward public safety.
- The CEO recommended using future additional funding to reduce one-time fund usage and deferred maintenance rather than restoring programs.
- An estimated $18–20 million budget gap for 2013-14 was noted, prompting a call for ongoing revenue solutions and economic development.
Board Deliberations: Restorations and Funding Sources
- The Board reached consensus on restoring funding for the Human Services Commission, Convention and Visitors Bureau, ProPay, and the Truancy Program.
- Additional restorations included positions for Veteran Services, Fire Department units, acute psychiatric beds, and custody deputies.
- The Board agreed to allocate $1 million to complete the El Embarcadero project, suggesting Redevelopment Agency funds as the source.
- Several items, including the Homeless Merger and Economic Development Position, did not meet the threshold for inclusion in the current consensus list.
Discussion of Funding Sources and Program Eliminations
- Supervisors debated potential funding sources for approximately $6.1 million in requested restorations, including RDA funds and program eliminations.
- Proposals to eliminate the Children’s Healthcare Initiative and restructure SOAR Training were discussed, with staff noting state requirements for the latter.
- The Board expressed strong support for maintaining the Children’s Health Insurance program due to its impact on reducing uninsured rates.
- Union concessions and General Fund carryover were considered, with some opposition to using salary reductions for one-time cuts.
CEO Staff Recommendations for Funding Program Restorations
- Staff recommended using ongoing RDA revenue for restorations such as the Human Services Commission, ProPay, and Veteran Services.
- One-time RDA fund balances were proposed to cover costs for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fire Engine 11, and acute psychiatric beds.
- Specific allocations were suggested from the Program Restoration Account, Ag Department savings, and Sheriff’s Department fund balance for various positions.
- The strategic reserve was recalculated to approximately $23.2 million after adjustments for program restorations and revenue variances.
Revisions to Funding Sources Based on Board Feedback
- The Board agreed to seek alternative funding for the Truancy Program and Custody Deputies after objections from the District Attorney and Sheriff’s Office.
- CEO staff recommended using remaining 11-12 RDA one-time funds to replace the objected-to sources for these two items.
- Staff updated the strategic reserve calculation to reflect the use of contingency funds and favorable revenue variances.
Final Comments and Recommended Actions
- A board member requested that any elimination of fire stations be brought back to the board for approval before occurring.
- Concerns were raised regarding parks maintenance timelines, with suggestions to explore beach parking fees and Transient Occupancy Tax increases.
- It was confirmed that while a one-time source was recommended for the current year, Truancy funding would be built into the following year's budget.
Motions and Votes
- The Board passed a motion to adopt the four bullet points of recommendations as amended during the meeting.
- The Board passed a motion to act as a successor agency.
Full summary
Meeting Context
- The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors convened for the third and final deliberation session on the Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget. The Clerk called the roll, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Public Comment
- The Board accepted public comment on items not on the agenda and new information provided since the previous session. Seven speakers addressed the Board:
- One speaker requested that the Board formally notify the public of a second comment period for final deliberations, citing Brown Act protocols.
- One speaker expressed gratitude for the Board’s opposition to Senate Bill 162 (fee-to-trust applications) and urged consideration of the impact on the county’s property tax base.
- One speaker, representing the Rental Housing Mediation Task Force, requested that the program not be cut.
- One speaker thanked the Board for hearing public input and noted the need for collective impact among nonprofits, businesses, and government entities.
- One speaker requested support for those who assist individuals in crisis.
- One speaker, representing the League of Women Voters, supported joint planning and coordination to address homelessness, including a communitywide task force and adequate funding.
- One speaker, a client of the Independent Living Resource Center, requested that the Human Services Commission budget not be reduced.
- One speaker, a parent of a son with bipolar disorder, urged the Board to fund 15 acute psychiatric beds immediately and suggested reviewing funding pools such as jail costs and AB 109 funds.
Staff Presentation: Budget Adjustments and CEO Remarks
- Budget Adjustments: The County Executive Office presented new budget adjustment items, including:
- CEO’s Office: $250,000 for consultants to review mental health department operations.
- Fire Department: Allocation of unspent grant money for the following year.
- Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADMHS): A transfer between funds to formalize the use of MHSA funds for homeless and indigent services.
- Planning and Development: Rebudgeting of unspent 2011-12 funds ($50,000).
- Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency: Elimination of the budget in the Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency Housing Fund and creation of a separate budget in Housing Community Development to manage housing funds.
- Treasurer/Tax Collector: Clarification that a position would be funded from contingency rather than fund balance.
- CEO Remarks: The County Executive summarized the proposed $828 million budget, noting it was balanced with revenues equaling expenditures, approximately $25 million less than the previous year. Staffing was proposed at 3,800 FTEs, down 550 FTEs since 2007-08. The CEO highlighted the shift in discretionary revenue toward public safety (from 47% to 64%) and the resulting underfunding of community resources, health, and public assistance. The CEO recommended that any additional funding available in the next year be used to reduce one-time fund use and deferred maintenance rather than for program restoration. The CEO noted an estimated $18–20 million budget gap for 2013-14 to maintain current services and urged the Board to consider ongoing revenue solutions and economic development.
Board Deliberations: Restorations and Funding Sources
- The Chair proposed polling the Board on which service reductions to restore, requiring at least three votes for each restoration. Supervisors Lavagnino, Carbajal, and Wolfe presented lists of items for restoration, including the Conference and Visitors Bureau, ProPay, Truancy program, Parks department positions, Veteran Services, Emergency shelter services, Guadalupe Dunes staffing, Ag biologist, Fire Department restorations, Human Services Commission, ADMHS acute psychiatric beds, Beacon EIR match, Homeless merger, Clerk of the Board position, and Sheriff’s Department custody deputies.
- The Board reviewed a consolidated list of proposed budget restorations and service level changes. Consensus was reached on the following items:
- Human Services Commission: Restore funding at $1.2 million.
- Convention and Visitors Bureau: Restore advertising resources at $195,000.
- ProPay: Restore funding at $176,000, with a discussion regarding a potential six-month duration pending a mental health department study.
- Truancy Program: Fund the program at $170,000.
- Mechanic Position: Restore the position at $70,000.
- Water and Sewer Plant Operator: Restore the position at $94,000.
- Veteran Services: Restore two positions at $179,000.
- Shelter/Warming Centers: Maintain current service levels at $45,000.
- Guadalupe Dunes: Restore staffing at $88,000 (adjusted from $23,000 to reflect a full position).
- Psychiatric Beds (Acute): Restore acute inpatient beds at $216,000.
- Engine 11 (Fire): Restore the position at $1.8 million, with funding potentially tied to concessions.
- Station 22 (Fire): Restore the position at $468,000, with funding potentially tied to concessions.
- Beacon EIR: Restore funding at $8,000.
- Clerk of the Board Extra Help: Restore funding at $50,000.
- Plumbers: Restore the positions at $145,000.
- Custody Deputies: Restore three positions at $161,000.
- El Embarcadero (Isla Vista): Allocate $1 million to complete the project, suggested to be funded from RDA funds.
- Items that did not reach the threshold for inclusion in the current consensus list included the Homeless Merger/Coordinator ($75,000), Economic Development Position ($120,000), Indigent Beds (IMD) ($121,000), Acute Care in PUF ($160,000), and Homeless Grant ($50,000).
Discussion of Funding Sources and Program Eliminations
- Supervisors discussed potential funding sources for the approximately $6.1 million in requested restorations. Proposed sources included RDA funds, concessions, General Fund carryover, and program eliminations.
- Program Eliminations: One supervisor proposed eliminating the Children’s Healthcare Initiative, citing that a high percentage of recipients are undocumented. Another supervisor proposed eliminating or restructuring SOAR Training (MHSA), citing low approval rates. Staff explained that SOAR Training is an MHSA "innovation" funding stream with specific state requirements and that changing the program's purpose would require reconvening the Mental Health Commission and public process.
- Children’s Health Insurance: Supervisors expressed strong support for maintaining this program, citing reduced uninsured rates and reimbursement benefits for clinics. Staff confirmed the program significantly lowered the county’s rate of uninsured children.
- Other Programs: Smoking Cessation ($323,000 within TSAC funds) and the Gaviota Study ($40,000, mostly funded by CREF) were identified. Union concessions/ProPay were discussed as a potential source, with some supervisors opposing the use of salary/benefit reductions for one-time cuts.
CEO Staff Recommendations for Funding Program Restorations
- Staff presented a matrix matching requested program restorations with recommended funding sources:
- Ongoing Funding (Recommended Source: Ongoing RDA Revenue): Human Services Commission, ProPay, Truancy Program, Veteran Services.
- One-Time Funding (Recommended Source: 11-12 RDA Fund Balance): Convention and Visitors Bureau ($195,000), Emergency Shelter Services ($45,000), Contractual Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Beds ($216,000), Fire Engine 11 ($1.8 million), Match for Beacon EIR ($8,000), Clerk of the Board ($50,000), Two Plumbers ($145,000), Alavista and Barcadero ($1 million).
- Other Sources:
- Program Restoration Account ($183,000): Mechanic ($70,000), Water and Sewage Plant Operator ($94,000), Guadalupe Dunes Staffing ($23,000).
- Ag Department Savings: Ag Biologist ($88,000).
- Union Concessions: Fire Engine 11.
- Department Savings/RDA Unanticipated: Fire Station 22 ($468,000).
- Sheriff Department Fund Balance: Custody Deputies ($161,000).
Revisions to Funding Sources Based on Board Feedback
- Truancy Program: The District Attorney’s Office objected to using their fund balance, citing restricted funds and existing salary cuts. The Board agreed to seek an alternative source. CEO staff recommended using the remaining 11-12 RDA one-time funds.
- Custody Deputies: The Sheriff’s Office requested that funding not come from their Prop 172 designation/fund balance, citing the need for contingency. The Board agreed to seek an alternative source. CEO staff recommended using the remaining 11-12 RDA one-time funds.
- Strategic Reserve Update: Staff updated the strategic reserve calculation. Starting from $21.8 million, adjustments included the use of $183,494 from Program Restoration, $250,000 from contingency for ADMHS consultants, deduction of $1,850,000 from 11-12 RDA distribution for one-time items, and inclusion of $1.2 million favorable revenue variance. The resulting strategic reserve was estimated to be approximately $23.2 million.
Final Comments and Recommended Actions
- Fire Department Negotiations: A board member requested that any potential elimination of fire stations be brought back to the board for approval before occurring. The CEO responded that the Fire Chief believes operations can continue during the current negotiation hiatus and that the board will receive negotiation results and possible budget adjustments in August.
- Parks and Revenue Generation: A board member expressed concern regarding the timeline for maintaining parks and suggested that beach parking fees may become necessary. The member also proposed exploring an increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and maximizing resources at Kachuma to generate revenue.
- Clarification on Truancy: It was confirmed that while a one-time source was recommended for the current year, the funding would be built into the budget for the following year.
Motions and Votes
- 1. Motion 1: Adoption of Recommendations (as amended)
- Action: A motion was made and seconded to adopt the four bullet points of recommendations as amended during the meeting.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.
- 2. Motion 2: Acting as a Successor Agency
- Action: A motion was made and seconded to act as a successor agency.
- Vote Outcome: Passed.