If the recently approved $1.41 billion budget is any indication of the county’s priorities, then law enforcement and mental health are top dogs in Santa Barbara County, where the Sheriff’s Office and Behavioral Wellness (BeWell) have accounted for a combined $346 million in allocated funds for the 2022-23 fiscal year.
The departments make up two of the top three on the county’s list of big budget items, with the Sheriff’s Office allocated $182.2 million this year, and $163.9 million earmarked for BeWell; Public Works is the second highest with $166 million.
BeWell’s budget grew by nearly $16 million — from a budget of about $148 million in 2021-22 — in keeping with a statewide trend of increased funding for mental health and recovery programs. These include California’s 2011 Realignment and Mental Health Services Act, with funding for behavioral wellness, and Proposition 63, which improves accessibility of mental health services and treatment.