Santa Barbara County refuted allegations from 3rd District supervisor candidate Frank Troise that the county would be facing a $15 million to $20 million deficit for the next three to four years.
Kelsey Gerckens Buttitta, Santa Barbara County’s public information officer, told the Sun that the county is forecasting a balanced budget for its upcoming cycle, with an estimated $381.5 million in total general fund discretionary revenue for fiscal year 2024-25, according to county documents.
“The board has been prudent in setting aside money in recent years to avoid any deficits in the coming years,” Gerckens Buttitta said in an email. “Forecast projects, presented to the board in December, show that revenue growth is not enough to offset increased costs in coming years, but prior year set-asides due to the board’s fiscal prudence and careful planning will be able to cover this for the coming two fiscal years.”
With revenue growth lower than what the county anticipated, an estimated $10.74 million in unallocated ongoing general fund reserves will be released to balance the shortfalls in the next two years, she said.
“The county is continuing to find efficiencies to keep the budget balanced in years three to five and is focused on maintaining existing services as opposed to expansions,” Gerckens Buttitta said.
According to county staff’s five-year forecast, the county projects allocating an additional $7.2 million in fiscal year 2024-25 and $1.71 million in fiscal year 2025-26. By the 2026-27 cycle, the county anticipates a $2.57 million deficit, followed by a $7.69 million deficit in 2027-28, and $950,000 deficit in 2028-29.
“The board’s strategy of setting aside ongoing discretionary revenue growth in prior years is a key reason why the five-year forecast projects balanced budgets [for] the next two fiscal years,” Gerckens Buttitta said. “The county also maintains numerous one-time reserves for various purposes, including a rainy day fund, the strategic reserve, currently funded at $44 million, per budget policy.”
Budget discussions will begin with workshops in April, followed by hearings and the budget’s adoption in June.
In a follow-up interview, Troise told the Sun that the shortfalls and the focus on maintaining existing services would impact the Sheriff’s Office, Public Health, Behavioral Wellness, and other county agencies because they wouldn’t be able to hire additional staff and expand their reach.
“The county’s managed expectations that there will be revenue shortfalls for the next three to four years. My budget proposal comes in to generate that revenue. It’s almost as if you went and asked everyone, ‘What do you need?’” Troise said. “By adding funding, they would fill the needs and fully fund staff, filling those gaps, and we can fully fund these departments with these changes.”
Troise’s budget proposal includes five initiatives: adding a Lompoc tech campus, a Lompoc Space base tourism opportunity, investing in more child care services, greater Planning and Development investments, and a new climate framework that he anticipates will generate between $240 million to $360 million total. He added that these items are all actionable for the Board of Supervisors and it would take six to 12 months to implement.
“Politics has gotten in the way of pragmatism, and it’s a shame,” Troise said. “We’re throwing the opportunity to help the county under the bus because of politics.”
The 3rd District supervisor candidate said that he would drop out of the race if either fellow candidate and Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne or incumbent Joan Hartmann agreed to this budget proposal. As of Jan. 22, there had been some discussion but no agreement had been reached.
