The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Friday agreed to fund dozens of full-time positions that were facing cuts after a recommendation from the County Executive Office.

The office had recommended that the board approve funding for 143 full-time positions across several departments that had initially faced cuts, including child welfare services, health clinic services, animal shelter services, food assistance services and park maintenance.

The board also decided to fund safety services that faced cuts, including child welfare services, therapy and interpretation services, and parenting classes.

The supervisors further agreed to fund the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center, which offers social services to residents.

The county is proposing a reduced budget of $1.64 billion for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a 2.9% decrease from last year. The reduced budget comes as the county prepares for an economic downturn.

County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato said there is a mix of cuts coming down from both the state and federal levels.

She added that the budget was already stressed because of the county departments’ rising operating costs.

“So, in short … Washington has made the problem much worse, Sacramento can’t fully absorb it, and the county is where the bill finally arrives,” Miyasato said.

The supervisors discussed partially restoring funding for the Isla Vista Foot Patrol, which the Sheriff’s Office suggested eliminating on Wednesday.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps proposed that the Sheriff’s Office return with other proposals to restore at least six of the positions in the Foot Patrol.

Isla Vista resident Julia Barbosa asked the board to find a way to protect the Foot Patrol, stating that the student-filled community is disproportionately affected by the cuts.

“We also have a uniquely vulnerable population with a large number of young women that attract predators and cliffs that attract tragedies,” Barbosa said. “Even a bare-bones Foot Patrol, which is what we have now, has a meaningful impact.”

The supervisors are scheduled to return for final budget hearings on June 16 at the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.

The budget workshop materials are available online here. 

The schedule for the workshops, including breakdown by department, is available here.