Santa Barbara County is holding budget workshops this week to start what could be a very difficult process, with the county having to cope with financial impacts of the Thomas Fire, and flood.
County officials say aside from the immediate financial impacts of dealing with the twin disasters, the damage will affect the revenue base for several years.
Montecito makes up some 17% of the property tax base and 62% of the bed tax in the County’s General Fund, so the impact affects services throughout the county.
The preliminary proposal includes $5.2 million dollars in cuts, which could hit agencies ranging from the Sheriff’s Office to Community Services. The workshops will take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, to help develop a final plan to be considered at county budget hearings in June.
