Wedgewood china makes a comeback
Art and poetry salute monarch butterflies Santa Barbara Museum of Art displays students’ works - B1
Our 165th Year
Columnist predicts the return of formal dining - B2
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MON DAY, A PR I L 12 , 2 0 21
Bicycle theft up 84%
Revising Senate rules Locals share thoughts on filibuster ‘loophole’ in Congress By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Last week, the United States Senate parliamentarian advised that a revised budget resolution can include reconciliation instructions allowing spending legislation to pass with a simple 50-vote majority rather than the two-thirds requirement. The news could potentially change the game for bills moving through the legislative system, and it has already been used for President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that passed without any Republican support. The ruling was shared by an aide for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said the determination is an “important step forward that this key pathway is available to Democrats if needed,” according to national media reports. The budget reconciliation is typically only able to be used once per fiscal year, but the new ruling is said to be paving the
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOs
Several bicycles are locked to the long racks on UCSB’s campus.
Bike shops assist customers against crime
Combination u-locks are an option to secure bicycles.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Bicycle theft nearly doubled in 2020, according to data gathered by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. In the fall, the Santa Barbara Police Department warned residents of such thefts. By late October, police gathered 320 cases of stolen bicycles — 159 of which were valued at over $950 each. The results may not be surprising, as more “lost bike” signs get papered around town and neighbors post pictures of their stolen cruisers on Please see bikes on A3
Federal plane visits Santa Barbara A U.S. government plane landed at the Santa Barbara Airport Saturday afternoon and was still at the airport Sunday morning. The plane is a Boeing C-32A, one of four used to transport United States leaders around the globe. It is unknown who arrived on the C-32A. Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted a photo on a government-issued plane with the caption, “Brighter days are ahead.” V.P. Harris’s tweet could likely be unrelated to the landing Saturday. — Annelise Hanshaw
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS
A U.S. government plane is seen at the Santa Barbara Airport Sunday morning.
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Board of Supervisors to hold budget workshops By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will hold three budget workshops this week for the fiscal year 2021-22 preliminary budget. The county’s preliminary operating budget is estimated at $1.34 billion for FY 2021-22, marking the third year in a row that service level reductions are not proposed by any county department. “This is all positive news, resulting from years of prioritizing key projects, careful planning, managing resources and preparing for the future. Despite the pandemic, property tax and sales tax revenue have remained stable with modest growth and cannabis revenue has remained strong, continuing to exceed estimates,” the staff report reads. “Critical federal and State resources for pandemic relief minimized anticipated budget gaps and reserve uses to cover response efforts, further stabilizing the fiscal outlook. All of these resources have been essential to offset increasing costs related to labor, general liability insurance and critical department needs.” The preliminary budget includes the board’s policies on program-based budgeting, fiscal stability, identifying and mitigating fiscal risks and maintaining reserves. It also continues to advance the board’s commitment to the “Renew ‘22” initiatives. The hearings, planned for 9 a.m. today, Wednesday and Friday, will be held a month before the release of the recommended budget and two months before budget hearings. The board will review and discuss departments’
preliminary budgets and special issues, receive public input and provide the county CEO direction on policy issues or specific items for consideration prior to the completion of the final recommended budget. The workshops will also provide an opportunity to receive information and provide direction on particular policy issues, including four special issue reports: Jail population, diversion and collaborative Justice (today); main jail staffing and facility assessment alternatives (today); capital and deferred maintenance projects and funding sources (Friday); and digital transformation projects (Friday). The preliminary budget of $1.34 billion is an increase of $150 million over the prior year. County officials cite state and federal resources, which increased by $110 million. The American Rescue Plan is the largest single increase at $43.3 million, half of which will be allocated to the county in FY 2021-22. Tax revenue and charges for service each increased by $20.8 million. The preliminary budget includes full-time equivalent staffing of 4,330.1, an increase of about 24 over the prior year. County officials based the budget development on several factors, including: continued revenue growth in property and sales taxes; avoided service level reductions; an increase in labor and liability costs; steady growth in cannabis tax revenue; no changes to the funding recommendation for the Northern Branch Jail; the inclusion of deferred maintenance and capital investments; and data and discovery criminal justice expansion requests being identified for funding set aside. Please see BUDGET on A4
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ins id e Classified............... B4 Life..................... B1-2
way for President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure package that was also presented last week. Although, the bill may still struggle to gain moderate Democrats’ votes if the 28% corporate tax remains included. This sort of loophole around the filibuster can only be used for budgetary bills, and the parliamentarian has the authority to strip any unrelated provisions, such as Democrats’ recent attempt at raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Bypassing the filibuster brings to light the debate surrounding its purpose, and some locals believe this loophole discourages bipartisanship. “The parties need to come together for solutions,” said Santa Barbara County Republican Chair Bobbi McGinnis. “One party can’t just dominate and exhort 50% of Americans that voted for the other people.” She said she hopes the ruling gets challenged, as she thinks it’s Please see SENATE on A4
Obituaries............. A4 Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 7-8-29-33-47 Meganumber: 20
Sunday’s DAILY 4: 4-0-7-1
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 22-26-27-58-66 Meganumber: 12
Sunday’s FANTASY 5: 10-12-23-30-35
Sunday’s DAILY DERBY: 04-03-08 Time: 1:44.49
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 14-16-23-50-53 Meganumber: 3
Sunday’s DAILY 3: 4-8-6 / Sunday’s Midday 0-6-0