Local Opinions - Santa Barbara, Montecito & Goleta Opinions

Scott Harris: Republicans ... Dead Party Walking?

In a state with a huge and growing Latino population and two women senators, can you name a single prominent female or Latino Republican?

Letter to the Editor: Thank You, Museum of Natural History

Commentary: An Appeal to Student Loan Lenders

Assemblyman Pedro Nava calls on lenders to stay in the market and not abandon students.

Commentary: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Politics

While it is not sponsoring Tuesday's McCain event, the venue is worthy of the discussion of the environment.

Commentary: Santa Rita Hills Another Battle in the Land-Use War

LAFCO should reject community service district petition to keep valuable ag land in production.

Letter to the Editor: Give Us Taxpayers a Break

Commentary: Has the Time Finally Come for Goleta to Discuss Bishop Ranch?

Request for city review should spur larger examination of property's best use.

Letter to the Editor: McCain Was for the Drilling Ban before He Was Against It

Letter to the Editor: Tobacco Campaign Contributions

A Brief History of the Lambeth Conference, Part I

For more than 100 years, the Anglican Communion has been talking through issues in search of resolution. First in a series.

Commentary: State-De la Vina Intersection Needs to Change

The 'free' right turn is an ill-fit for an urban environment and poses a risk to pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers alike.

Olivia Uribe: Don’t Cut Vital Services

Short-term budget cuts to ADMHS programs will have long-term consequences for Santa Barbara County.

Letter to the Editor: Caruso Affiliated Disputes Newspaper’s Characterization of Miramar Process

Commentary: SB CAN Backs Farr, Sterling and Ready

Trio best represents organization's priorities, SB CAN director Deborah Brasket says.

Letter to the Editor: It Takes a Community to Build a Future

Commentary: Home Schooling Offers Positive Learning Environment

Home-school student sounds off on court case that may restrict education practice's process and require teacher credentials.

Letter to the Editor: Unfair Tactics Won’t Solve Isla Vista Alcohol Problem

Letter to the Editor: We Will Never Forget the Meaning of Memorial Day

Commentary: Let Parents Make Decisions About Education

Home-school student sounds off on court case that may restrict education practice's process and require teacher credentials.

Commentary: Home Schooling Has Many Positive Effects

Home-school student sounds off on court case that may restrict education practice's process and require teacher credentials.

Commentary: Restrictions for Home-Schoolers?

Home-school student sounds off on court case that may restrict education practice's process and require teacher credentials.

Oil Severance Tax Idea Should Be Used to Fuel Economic Development

Drilling deeper into county's exploration of tax hike revenue brings up more questions than answers.

Letter to the Editor: Mental Health Discussion at Board of Supervisors Meeting

Pete Peterson: Citizen-Driven Housing Policy Emerges in San Mateo County

To solve a seemingly intractable challenge, an unprecedented public engagement campaign is under way.

Letter to the Editor: Santa Barbara’s 2009 Budget Is Balanced, Without Use of Reserves

An April 25 editorial in another publication contained several points that require clarification.

• The proposed General Fund budget recently submitted to the Santa Barbara City Council is balanced. There is no deficit. With recent declines in the growth rates of some of our key revenues, we lowered our revenue estimates for next year by $3.3 million. In order to maintain a balanced budget, we have proposed adjustments, to both revenues and expenditures, totaling $4.1 million. These adjustments are sufficient to re-balance the budget and create an $800,000 contingency reserve in case of additional bad fiscal news.

• The proposed Police Department budget for next year is not being cut. In fact, it is $500,000 more than the department’s adopted budget for the current fiscal year. While this increase is not as large as originally planned, the city’s lowered revenue limits our ability to fund the original increase. The proposed adjustments do not reduce any patrol positions or gang enforcement activities. Regarding the other half of public safety, the recommended Fire Department budget represents an increase of almost $1.6 million over the current year’s adopted budget.

• The city’s General Fund reserves total $21.6 million, more than 20 percent of annual expenditures. Additionally, the city’s other funds, including water, airport, parking and waterfront, maintain their own, separate reserves. Taken together, the city’s liquid reserves total approximately $100 million. In addition, city assets such as the Granada Garage are covered by insurance, including earthquake coverage.

In summary, the proposed Fiscal Year 2009 General Fund budget is balanced without the use of reserves and contains more than $800,000 of unallocated funds to provide a hedge against additional revenue weakness or possible state budget impacts.

James L. Armstrong
Santa Barbara city administrator

Letter to the Editor: Who’s To Blame for California’s Fiscal Fix?

The tax-and-spend liberals did it again. They have overspent our hard-earned tax dollars and have bankrupted California. The unions put in leaders that will always approve more unnecessary workers, with ridiculous wages perks and pensions.

Kevin O'Connor
Santa Barbara

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