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05/09/2022
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to advance the 2022-23 proposed county budget, which includes $1.03 billion in spending. It now moves forward to budgetary consideration hearings beginning June 21.

03/08/2022
This week, two consent calendar items before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors were passed unanimously. Their intent: to regulate the behavior of officials and members of the public alike.

12/06/2021
Leaders of the union representing county government workers have informed the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors that they’re ready to strike after an overwhelming majority of members voted in favor. Negotiations are set to resume Dec. 9—and a strike could follow.

11/15/2021
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to redistribute about 3,400 residents as part of the decennial redistricting process. The city of Scotts Valley, which was split along Highway 17, will be “reunified,” shifting 2,300 people from the 1st to the 5th District.

10/21/2021
Santa Cruz County supervisors have loosened building rules for in-law units in unincorporated county areas with the intent to increase housing production and comply with new state laws.

10/04/2021
San Lorenzo Valley resident Jayme Ackemann comments on the redistricting process in Santa Cruz County and urges residents to get involved while there’s still time to affect the outcome.

09/27/2021
Amid complaints about the slow pace of rebuilding permits in the CZU Lighting Complex Fire zone, Santa Cruz County supervisors loosened rules that affect landowners in the fire zone. “We eased the covenant,” Santa Cruz County Board Chairman Bruce McPherson said after the 5-0 vote in favor of the change.

09/14/2021
Discriminatory reports—a phenomenon where unwarranted complaints are filed based on a complainant’s bias—have been prohibited by an ordinance passed by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

09/13/2021
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors is hitting the pause button on new cannabis cultivation licenses within 500 feet of residences—a move spurred by conflicts on such issues as odor, noise and security. The supervisors will look at the issue again on Nov. 9.

09/13/2021
Santa Cruz County supervisors attempted to facilitate rebuilding in the CZU Fire zone by waiving geologic evaluations. But some residents bristled at a requirement to acknowledge on their property titles the risk of landslide if they forgo evaulations.

08/10/2021
Almost a year after the CZU fire destroyed more than 900 homes in the county, many survivors still await permits to rebuild. County supervisors unanimously voted to prepare a plan next month to speed up the process.

06/07/2021
Six weeks after Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty announced that he wouldn’t seek reelection in 2022, the race to replace him has its first candidate.

05/19/2021
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to delay a 25-cent fee for disposable cups at businesses in the unincorporated parts of the county until January 2022. “I think this is a very difficult year to try to implement new regulations,” Supervisor Manu Koenig said.

04/29/2021
The sitting county supe won't seek reelection in 2022. No local pols have declared they will definitely run, but few have ruled out the possibility altogether.

04/27/2021
According to a report heard by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the COVID-19 pandemic has had greater impacts on Latinx and Black communities than white ones.

03/05/2021
Under a plan developed by outside consultants, the County would coordinate with local municipal governments in a new 3-year push to address local homelessness.

02/22/2021
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to tap state funds dedicated to rental assistance.