The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a revised $20.9 million budget for the Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services Department, restoring several services that had been slated for cuts while preserving most county funding for local arts organizations.
The spending plan comes one week after supervisors rejected an earlier proposal that would have eliminated the county’s contract with Arts Council Santa Cruz County and cut funding to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History in half to help close a $590,000 budget shortfall.
Instead, the board directed staff to find other ways to balance the budget.
The adopted budget reduces county funding for both the Arts Council and the MAH by 15%—a cut of $25,500 and $23,100, respectively—instead of the deeper reductions previously proposed. The Parks Recreation Grant Program also was reduced by 25%, or $12,000.
The revised budget restores seven-day operations at the Simpkins Family Swim Center, maintains portable restroom service at county parks and funds extra-help park maintenance staff to address vegetation management and deferred maintenance.
To close the budget gap, county staff assembled a package of one-time funding and targeted spending reductions totaling $590,000.
The largest contributions include $100,000 each from the Measure K environment and parks allocations in Supervisorial Districts 1 and 2, $68,400 from the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure, and three separate $50,000 contributions from General Services, Risk Management and Measure Q funds. Additional savings came from reduced information technology costs and a deferred $15,000 equipment purchase by the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Parks Director Rebecca Hurley credited county departments for working together to avoid reductions in park operations and staffing.
“This has really been a spirit of collaboration amongst other county departments,” Hurley said, calling the effort to close the budget gap without cutting services “a really big collaborative effort.”
The revised budget also rejects a proposed pay-to-park pilot program that had been included in earlier budget discussions.
Last week’s proposal drew strong opposition from dozens of residents, artists and community leaders who urged supervisors to preserve funding for the Arts Council and MAH, arguing the organizations provide essential cultural and educational services throughout the county.
Jim Brown, executive director of Arts Council Santa Cruz County, thanked supervisors and county staff for finding an alternative but cautioned that the solution is temporary.
“We all know that today’s situation is a stop-gap,” Brown said. “With future budgets projected to be even tighter, I urge the county to look for dedicated solutions for the arts.”
Overall, the budget funds four divisions—Parks Operations, Cultural Services, Art in Public Places and County Service Area 11—with 57 full-time equivalent positions.
County staff warned that the budget relies heavily on one-time funding sources that will not be available in future years. Without long-term solutions, the department could face additional reductions to programs, operations and staffing during development of the 2027-28 budget.
The board also approved an updated fee schedule, effective July 1, increasing many park rental, pool and recreation fees to reflect inflation and rising operating costs.
