An Inside Look at Santa Barbara County’s $1.5 Billion Budget
County Leadership Is ‘Ready for Today, Preparing for Tomorrow’ with Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget
Santa Barbara County is in good shape heading into Fiscal Year 2023-24, with county officials estimating a “stable” operating budget of $1.48 billion — a 6.2 percent increase from last year — as the focus now shifts to preparing for an uncertain economic climate in the future.
County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato, Assistant Executive Officer Nancy Anderson, and Budget Director Paul Clementi sat down with the Independent this week for an inside look at the county’s billion-dollar-plus budget, giving a glimpse into just what it takes to juggle the finances countywide and manage big-picture plans for 22 departments and thousands of employees.
“We are entering this budget year with a buckle-up-and-drive-carefully approach,” Miyasato said. “While the fiscal outlook for the county remains relatively stable, the trajectory of the economy remains uncertain.”
