This is the index to Noozhawk’s Santa Barbara Challenge series, our public-engagement project on the city of Santa Barbara’s budget. Our professional journalists are providing an overview of Santa Barbara’s financial picture but the core of the project is a Web-based survey that is open to the entire community. The survey will be launched at the conclusion of our reporting and we’re asking you to participate, and share it with your family and friends.
The Santa Barbara Challenge is the result of a unique partnership with the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy in Malibu. San Francisco-based UserVoice.com is providing the survey tools.
Noozhawk staff writers Lara Cooper and Giana Magnoli are the lead reporters on the project, and they’ve been assisted by managing editor Michelle Nelson; reporters Alex Kacik, Taylor Orr and Ben Preston; interns Kristin Crosier, Andrea Ellickson, Michael Goldsholl, Elite Henenson, Daniel Langhorne, Bryana Nugent, Erin Stone and Lindsey Weintraub; and Web development staffers Will Macfadyen and Edgar Oliveira.
The project is sponsored by American Riviera Bank, RightScale, the Santa Barbara Foundation and Terrain Consulting.
Day One
» Part 1: Noozhawk’s Santa Barbara Challenge Is a Budget Puzzle You Can Help Solve
» Part 2: Bill Macfadyen: Building a Better Budget Starts with You
» Part 3: Taxes, Fees and Fines Are All Part of Santa Barbara’s Balancing Act
Day Two
» Part 4: Complexities of Santa Barbara’s Budget Process Keep Numbers on the Move
» Part 5: Facing Increasing Budget Pressure, Jim Armstrong Is Right at Home in the Center of It All
» Part 6: Amid Stormy Budget Seas, Mayor Helene Schneider Battles Ripple Effects, Too
» Part 7: Police Protection Remains a Priority But Even SBPD Not Immune to Cuts
Day Three
» Part 8: Santa Barbara’s General Fund Draws Harshest Glare of Scrutiny, Speculation
» Part 9: Safety, Liquidity and Yield Remain Santa Barbara’s Investment Priorities
Day Four
» Part 10: Officials Point to Paseo Nuevo as Shining Example of Santa Barbara Redevelopment Agency’s Value
» Part 11: Regulations, Restrictions Reduce Wiggle Room in Crafting Santa Barbara’s Budget
Day Five
» Part 12: In the Future, Santa Barbara’s Mortgage Help for Employees Likely a Thing of the Past
» Part 13: City of Santa Barbara’s Salaries, Benefits Up $24 Million Since 2001
» Part 14: Pension Pressure May Lead to Changes, But Santa Barbara Officials Doubt They’re Imminent
Day Six
» Part 15: Santa Barbara’s Nonprofit Sector Steps In as Government Steps Away
Day Seven
» Part 16: Finance Officials from Other Communities Weigh In with Suggestions for Santa Barbara
Day Eight
» Part 17: Santa Cruz Turns to Social Media to Create Blueprint for Solving Budget Crisis
Day Nine
» Part 18: Common Sense California Takes Public Engagement to a New Level with Noozhawk Project
Day 10
» Part 19: UserVoice.com to Give Noozhawk Readers the Platform to Speak Up on Santa Barbara’s Budget
Day 11
» Part 20: How Will You Help Santa Barbara Solve Its Budget Challenges?
» Part 21: The Santa Barbara Challenge: Here’s How It Works
» Part 22: Join the Conversation and Take Our Survey
Additional Resources
» Adopted Santa Barbara Operating and Capital Budgets, 2000-2011
» Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports, 2004-2010
You can support more independent quality journalism like the Santa Barbara Challenge by donating to Noozhawk. Click here to make a donation online, or mail your check to Noozhawk, P.O. Box 101, Santa Barbara 93102. Personal contributions to Noozhawk are not deductible as charitable donations.
— Noozhawk publisher Bill Macfadyen can be reached at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.