City Council Creates Citizen Task Force

In response to unmet infrastructure needs totaling about $150 million, the Santa Barbara City Council authorized the creation of a seven-person citizen task force to raise funds, the members of which will be solicited to join based on their expertise. City Administrator Jim Armstrong will be looking not only for experts in municipal financing, but environmental analysts and public outreach professionals who can help sell a tax increase. Armstrong blamed the shortfall on cuts in federal and state funding to cities, and the inability of gas tax revenues to keep up with inflation.

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