Jail expansion debate intensifies during Santa Barbara County budget workshop
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Santa Barbara County supervisors wrapped up their third budget workshop this week as officials work to close a multi-million dollar deficit, with a heated debate emerging over the future of the county’s jail system.
Leaders spent much of Friday discussing how to fund homelessness services, mental health programs, and other community needs, as revenue from cannabis taxes continues to fall short of expectations.
But one of the most contentious topics was how much to expand the Northern Branch Jail.
The proposal under consideration includes adding up to two new housing units, a move that could cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars over time.
Supporters, including Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, say expansion is necessary to address overcrowding and maintain safety inside the jail.
“We will continue to have to house a large number of people, many of them very dangerous people in our jail system,” Brown said during the hearing.
Brown is advocating for two additional housing units, arguing that adding just one would not be sufficient to properly manage the jail population.
“This past Monday, our jail population was 769, with 86% being incarcerated for felonies,” Brown said. “Only one added pod would not allow for the proper classification and proper housing of incarcerated persons, so that they can be appropriately housed for their safety, for the safety of other inmates, and for the safety of the jail staff.”
Critics, however, warn that expanding the jail could deepen the county’s financial challenges at a time when budgets are already strained.
“Utilize this one means open to you to divert money away from a wasteful jail expansion, to reduce cuts to essential services needed by a community that is already reeling from federal and state budget cuts,” said Larry Behrendt of Indivisible Santa Barbara.
The debate comes as the Sheriff’s Office continues to face staffing shortages, driving overtime costs into the tens of millions of dollars each year.
Some county leaders say resources should instead be focused on preventing incarceration in the first place.
“Someone like me is adamant and dogged to make sure that we do everything we can to keep people out of our jails, to provide mental health treatment, to provide better education, to keep people off the pathways to incarceration,” said Supervisor Laura Capps. “That is the priority. Those programs take funding.”
No final decisions were made Friday. County leaders are expected to continue budget discussions in the coming weeks before adopting a final spending plan in June.
