Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors 06/24/2026

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors held their final budget hearing on June 24, 2026, focusing extensively on budget allocations and funding decisions across various county departments and community programs. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of the public defenders office budget, which involved reallocating over $400,000 from probation and health services to close a funding gap without layoffs, and maintaining the contract with the Paige and Dudley law firm despite budget constraints. The board also addressed funding challenges for community-based organizations providing medical enrollment and food security services, with requests for partial funding allocations to sustain outreach positions. The parks, open space, and cultural services budget was discussed in detail, with a proposed $590,000 needed to restore services such as 7-day pool operations and restroom contracts; the board directed staff to find funding to maintain arts council and museum of art and history programs, with some discretionary funds allocated to support these efforts. Additionally, the Health Services Agency presented a report on the county's indigent care program (Medacru) utilization trends and assessed the potential transition to the state County Medical Services Program (CMSP), recommending continued evaluation but not pursuing CMSP participation at this time due to higher projected costs and operational challenges. The board passed the overall budget with a 5-0 vote, excluding the parks budget which was deferred for further consideration. Several motions included directing staff to return with final budget plans and funding options by June 30, 2026, emphasizing the need for sustainable funding strategies amid ongoing fiscal challenges and state/federal policy changes impacting healthcare and social services.