Santa Cruz County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Cruz County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
County use of artificial intelligence
The county is moving from scattered employee AI use to a governed enterprise program: one platform (Claude or ChatGPT), training for 85% of knowledge workers by year-end, a public-facing chatbot, and an internal AI advisory subcommittee. Supervisors pressed staff to form that subcommittee sooner and to guarantee AI won't replace workers.
General Assistance program overhaul
The county's $809 monthly cash grant — the highest in California — costs have tripled in seven years. The Board approved a three-month limit for non-disabled adults, a $50 benefit cut, and a bigger push to move people onto federal SSI, starting July 2027.
CORE Investments community funding
The Board set priorities for future CORE safety net grants and told staff to consult the subcommittee if CORE cuts are needed to close next year's projected budget deficit.
Public Defender funding and the Page & Dudley alternate defense contract
The county must replace its conflict defense contract by July 2027. The Page/Dudley firm argued the new RFP is rigged toward a public defender model; the board told staff to retool the RFP with more weight on effective representation and price and return by December 15.
Health Services Agency budget and clinic sustainability
Supervisors De Serpa, Hernandez, and Cummings urged state help for Watsonville Community Hospital via a support letter for AB 1923's Distressed Hospital Loan Program, noting 650 local jobs and countywide health impacts if it closes.
Proposed County Strategic Plan 2026-2032
The county is building its six-year strategic plan around six focus areas approved in November 2025. Supervisors spent the day identifying priorities and principles that will guide budget and policy decisions through 2032 — including how to cope with looming fiscal cliffs.
Veterans Service Office placement and performance
After a year of friction between the Veterans Services Office and county oversight, the Board blessed an MOU that formalizes roles and keeps quarterly reviews, with updates due in February and May 2027. Veterans, some still pushing for full autonomy under the CEO, called it progress but not the finish line.