Board of Supervisors Put Public Safety Measure on Ballot

Sales Tax will Halt The Early Release of Inmates

Santa Barbara- July 13th, 2010

Santa Barbara County voters will decide in November whether to pass “Measure S”; a sales tax to stop the early release of jail inmates and bolster public safety.

Following a second reading at today’s Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to place the “Local Crime and Gang Reduction, Fire Protection, and Jail Construction/Operation Ordinance” on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

If a two-thirds majority of voters pass the measure, a new half-percent sales tax will go into effect next year, generating an estimated $30-million a year. The revenue from the measure will pay for the construction and operation of a new North County Jail, fund repeat offender reduction programs and alternatives-to-incarceration designed to reduce inmate recidivism, and support public safety agencies throughout the County and the incorporated cities.

A court order has forced the early release of 1,500 to 1,800 Santa Barbara County Jail inmates each year. “This is not about creating a more comfortable environment for the inmates.” said Sheriff Bill Brown, “This is about enforcing the court’s orders, holding convicted criminals accountable for their actions, and making a safer environment for our Custody Deputies. This measure will not only force inmates to finish their sentences, it will allow us to better prepare them for life after incarceration which will reduce the chance of them victimizing someone else and landing right back in jail."

The proposal comes after the Sheriff’s Office secured a $56.3 Million grant from the State of California to help build a new North County Jail. The County would be required to come up with the remaining $24 Million for construction and the estimated additional $15 Million a year to operate the new 304-bed facility.

The measure will also generate much needed funding for front-line public safety which has been negatively impacted by three straight years of budget cuts. “The revenue generated by county residents, and out of county visitors alike, will bolster fire protection and law enforcement across this county including the cities and fire districts,” added Sheriff Brown. “High profile gang crimes and a number of devastating fires in recent years have highlighted the need for stronger front-line law enforcement and fire protection throughout the county.”

“Raising taxes should always be a last resort, but this is last resort,” said Sheriff Brown. “For more than 20-years we’ve tried repeatedly to address this problem. And it’s clear that a new revenue source is an absolute necessity to make a new jail a reality.”

If approved, consumers would begin paying the half percent tax on July 1, 2011 which occurs after the expiration of the emergency 1-percent sales tax created by the State of California to combat the budget crisis. “When the measure takes effect, we will actually be paying a half-percent less in sales tax than we are now,” said Sheriff Brown.

Click Here for  The Ballot Measure Board Letter

Fast Facts

-$80 Million           Estimated cost to build North County Jail

-$56.3 Million        State grant money conditionally awarded for construction

-$15 Million                       Additional funds needed to operate jail each year

-Public Safety Sales Tax = ½%

-2/3rds majority needed to pass

-Will stay in effect for 14 years

-Will generate an estimated $30 Million/year

Division of Funds

-50% ($15 Million/year) Jail construction and operation

-17% ($5 Million/year) Recidivism Reduction Efforts/Alternatives-to-Incarceration

-17% ($5 Million/year) Front-line Law Enforcement for Counties and Cities

-17% ($5 Million/year) Front-line Fire Protection for Counties & Cities

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org