New 2-Year Budget, Operational Plan Adopted In Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously adopted the county's first-ever two-year budget and operational plan. The $1.6 billion 2019-21 budget addresses slowing revenue growth and represents an overall spending decline of 12 percent, according to county officials.

The board also approved the county's first operational plan, the first of three under
the county's six-year Strategic Plan. The operational plan includes 178 specific
objectives for county staff to accomplish over the next two years, and is available at
www.sccvision.us.

Measure G, approved by two-thirds of county voters in the 2018 general election,
provides funding for several key projects including ongoing construction at LEO's Haven
at Chanticleer Park and the Focused Intervention Team pilot program.

The budget also funds improved security and mental health services at county detention facilities,
adding DNA analysis to the county's Forensic Services Laboratory, a new Probation
Service Center and a new Aptos Public Safety Center.

Also funded is improved maintenance of county facilities, including a study of how county campuses can best meet community needs, including affordable housing.

The Proposed Budget and Operational Plan, as well as an online budget dashboard, can
be found at santacruzcounty.us/Government/BudgetandFinancialReports.aspx. An
interactive budget dashboard may be accessed directly at www.sccbudget.com