County of Santa Cruz Government News

In the decade between 2013-23, volunteers and nonprofits picked up 439,358 cigarette butts from Santa Cruz County’s beaches and natural areas, accounting for a quarter of all litter found here.

Santa Cruz County voters on Nov. 5 will consider a parcel tax for county, city and nonprofit projects to help reduce the risks of wildfires, floods and other catastrophes fueled by climate change.

In the decade between 2013-23, volunteers and nonprofits picked up 439,358 cigarette butts from Santa Cruz County’s beaches and natural areas, accounting for a quarter of all litter found here.

Santa Cruz County’s economy saw a rebound in the last few years, but an aging workforce and the lack of high-paying jobs might spell trouble for the economy in coming years. These are some of the findings highlighted in the 2024 State of the Workforce report, which was released last month.

The deteriorating state of road conditions in Santa Cruz County’s unincorporated areas is cited as being one of the “five most significant problems facing the County,” according to a Grand Jury Road Report published on June 5.

Santa Cruz County Child Protective Services workers prioritize reunifying children with their birth parents, and have been accused of insensitive treatment and intimidation of families, according to a report released June 17 by the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury.

A Santa Cruz County Grand Jury report determined that the Behavioral Health Division struggles to meet the county’s mental health needs, and has neither the fiscal means nor staff resources to do the job.

A Santa Cruz County justice program that places reconciliation over punishment has helped more than 240 people keep criminal convictions off their record since its inception in 2020, with just one case of recidivism.

Santa Cruz County’s job growth has rebounded from the pandemic slower than the state average, and new jobs in the county were led by emerging industries in biotechnology, transportation and manufacturing, according to a 2024 State of the Workforce report released this week.

San Lorenzo Valley voters want a county supervisor who will fix roads, help prepare for disasters, increase power reliability and improve communications between the county and residents, according to a recent straw poll. 

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has announced a “Summer Love” pet adoption special to make it easier to bring a new furry family member home.

Lack of staff and programs, improper usage of facilities, and mistreatment of inmates, including the mentally ill, were all found during the report.

After Santa Cruz County last year saw a drop in the numbers of unhoused people, the numbers this year from the annual Point In Time count conducted in January stayed mostly static.

The top 10 employees each earned more than $329,000 excluding benefits, and the top earner was paid $404,298, according to records.

Three years after the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to purchase the former West Marine building on Westridge Drive, a convergence of city and county officials gathered at the site Tuesday to celebrate its new incarnation.