Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Meeting

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors held a meeting on March 10, 2026, addressing multiple agenda items including immigration enforcement policies, youth probation services, housing element certification issues, and foundational budgeting principles for fiscal year 2026-2027. A key procurement-related discussion involved the probation department's reinvestment of approximately $160,000 in savings from local youth treatment facilities into diversion, restorative justice, vocational education, and family support programs, with an RFP released to contract these services. The board also considered sending a formal letter to the California Department of Housing and Community Development requesting clarification on the housing element certification date to address builder's remedy project penalties. Additionally, the board reviewed foundational budgeting principles to guide the upcoming budget, emphasizing mandates, safety net prioritization, cost recovery, and fiscal resilience amid projected multi-year deficits. The board unanimously approved the budget principles and directed staff to continue developing the budget with these guidelines. No direct contract awards or vendor selections were made during this meeting, but several action items related to budget allocations and policy clarifications were approved to inform future procurement and funding decisions.