Covering Up Policy Failures in Santa Barbara County
The Elite Left Enviro-Socialists who run the county never allowed fire breaks, controlled burns, agricultural field barriers, or Turbine pump filled cisterns on the hillsides.
While the Board of Supervisors obsesses over DEI, climate alarmism, massive recycling schemes, and ICE, some County operations are running amok.
1. The Regional Fire Communications Center – Canary in the Coal Mine?
The Santa Barbara County Fire District, a dependent special district governed by the Board of Supervisors has burned down its financial reserves (fund balance) and is requiring an increasing contribution from the County general fund.
Back in 2026 the Board reapportioned the allocation of the property tax to ensure that the District would become self-sufficient and not require increasing general fund contributions. Now the Board has allowed the District to run down its reserves while also providing increased general fund allocations. The table below demonstrates the problem.