Santa Barbara County adopts $1.66 billion budget

Layoffs, program cuts ahead as Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approve $1.66 billion budget

Dozens of layoffs and cuts to healthcare services are coming to Santa Barbara County, after elected officials on Tuesday approved a new $1.66 billion annual spending plan. An estimated 77 county employees were expected to lose their jobs effective July 1—a slight drop from the 84 pinpointed last month, and fewer than the 277 positions initially identified in the Spring as potentially expendable. “All the employees, I hope you can realize that we…

Santa Barbara County adopts $1.66 billion budget

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors adopted a $1.66 billion operating budget for FY 2026-27, paired with more than $122 million in capital investments.County officials say the budget reflects a 1.7% reduction from the prior year and is guided by the theme "Responsible Stewardship Today; Resilient, Sustainable Tomorrow."The two-year balancing strategy will preserve the County's Strategic Reserve while maintaining funding for health and …