With an election coming in just over a month, many voters may wonder why their vote on 3rd District representative to the Board of Supervisors matters. Here’s why:
Santa Barbara County government provides services that the cities don’t. Most cities in the county contract out police and fire needs to the county, two critical public safety services. That includes the District Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes crimes, the Probation Department, and the County jails.
Beyond that, county government covers everything that involves public health, from pandemic response, to health care for children, seniors, the disabled, and more. The county’s Behavioral Wellness Department addresses mental health and drug addiction, a growing issue. The county administers elections and tax collection. The Air Pollution Control District (APCD) monitors air quality and regulations emissions.