Regarding Santa Barbara City sales tax hike , let’s get real. The City of Santa Barbara is mismanaged and bloated.
Personnel, including salaries and benefits, are the most costly burden in any public entity. However, the data illustrates the City of Santa Barbara is overstaffed and overpaid.
As per the California State Comptroller’s office (reports go to the state by the local entity) over $125,508,398 in wages and $27,158,306 in benefits (retirement and health) was paid in 2023 for 1,787 city employees in a city of 85,679 residents. The highest reported salary is $467,796 for Fire Battalion Chief.