On June 15, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a multi-million dollar budget for 2012-13, using one-time funds to keep open several positions slated for elimination.
After listening to a week’s worth of budget hearings packed with pleas from numerous community groups, the supervisors voted to continuing funding for several key departments. This includes positions in the District Attorney’s truancy program; the Human Services Commission; Veterans Services; the Department of Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services; the Santa Barbara County Clerk’s Office; and more.
These positions will be funded with money previously set aside for the county’s now-defunct redevelopment agency, as well as reserve funds.
The county is facing some sizeable expenses in the 2013-14 fiscal year, including paying approximately $123 million worth of retirement benefits—more than three times the amount in 2003-04.
This article appears in Jun 21-28, 2012.