Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Meeting

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on August 4, 2026, to address the county's fiscal distress due to federal and state funding cuts impacting local safety net programs. The board considered adopting a resolution to declare a condition of persistent fiscal distress and to place a half-cent countywide sales tax measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This measure is projected to raise $27 million annually for five years to help mitigate losses exceeding $200 million in local safety net funding, including healthcare, emergency services, housing stability, and food security. The board discussed budget priorities for the allocation of these funds and emphasized the temporary and flexible nature of the tax. After public comments both supporting and opposing the measure, the board unanimously approved the resolution to place the sales tax measure on the ballot and establish budget priorities to guide spending if the measure passes.