Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Benito County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
25 issues in public safety
Election integrity and election-night results
Days before Election Day, the board retroactively cleaned up two years of voting-system contract paperwork and approved the vendor's name change to Liberty Vote USA. The CEO publicly criticized the Clerk-Recorder for going around her office.
Emergency services leadership and disaster council
An outside review found 17 gaps in the county's emergency readiness — thin OES staffing, missing or outdated plans, and weak documentation of training — just as an El Niño winter approaches. The Board wants a director-level position consolidating OES, EMS, fire and 911 oversight, and asked for salary and funding options.
DA and Probation building roof repair
The roof over the District Attorney and Probation offices is deteriorated enough that officials fear a collapse in heavy winter storms. The Board approved a ~$120,000 repair project (with contingency allowances) and agreed to pay for it out of the $500,000 emergency-preparedness fund.
SB 255 Recorder Notification Program and $5 Fee
Starting February 25, 2027, recorded deeds and mortgages trigger a mailed fraud alert to property owners, funded by a new $5 per-document fee.
Super El Niño storm preparedness and local emergency declaration
NOAA projects a very strong El Niño with heavy winter storms, and the governor has already declared a statewide emergency. The county declared its own local emergency to fast-track contracts, set aside $500,000, and is asking residents in flood-prone areas to clean creeks, sign up for alerts, and have evacuation plans.
Recall petition against Supervisor Kosmicki underway
The June 2 recall of Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez passed by 33 votes and is now officially certified. Voters in District 5 will pick a replacement on November 3, 2026.
Overhaul of county public defender system with $1.7M state grant
A resident cited the county's own evaluation showing the defense system handled 1,100+ cases a year with as few as one or two attorneys. The state has set aside $1.7 million for an institutional public defender's office, and the speaker asked that funds stay dedicated to defense.
CIP list cleanup and Fire Station 5 / San Juan Oaks
The county agreed to be a host site for potential state-funded EV fast chargers at the San Juan Oaks parking lot with Citizen Energy, pending a California Energy Commission grant award.
Shelter capacity and displaced residents
HHSA lined up shelter sites (San Benito Farm Housing with 288 beds, Veterans Hall with 75-100 beds), hotels for medically vulnerable residents, and partnerships with the Red Cross, Food Bank and local nonprofits. The board also discussed repairing 11 idle RVs (~$10,000-13,000) and using vacant migrant housing units for displaced families.
Evacuation planning and emergency communications
The Sheriff said the county will be 'on its own' during a statewide storm and warned residents who ignore evacuation orders may not be rescued. All emergency messaging will come through the Sheriff's office, and the county is pushing residents to sign up for SBCAlert, Nixle and know their evacuation zone.
Extreme heat and community resilience grant
A nonprofit wants county help on a heat-resilience hub grant, but the application listed the county as a co-applicant with staffing and infrastructure obligations. Supervisors voted to support the project — but only as a non-binding supporter, not a co-applicant.
Speeding and school-zone safety on Tevis Trail
A District 1 resident reported speeding, stolen 25-mph signs, and double parking near a full-capacity school, and asked for help. Supervisors discussed speed humps and a pending public works speed bump policy.
South County public safety staffing
The sheriff's office is short deputies and jail staff, with one jail pod shut down. The board funded full medical/dental/vision plus hiring incentives by freezing five positions, hoping to stop the bleeding on public safety.
Sheriff's radio communications upgrade
After years of delays, the ~$2.5 million radio project has four radios in testing and a new repeater on Fremont Peak, with cellular and Starlink backups planned. Neighboring agencies, including San Jose PD, will get interoperability access.
AB109 public safety realignment funding
The county's AB109 trust fund holds nearly $11.9 million and pays for 22.5 county positions plus jail programs, DA and public defender case management systems. The board ratified the annual plan.
Opioid Settlement Fund Treatment Expansion
The county rejected Bright Future Recovery's late bid and awarded residential treatment to Sun Street Centers, meaning men needing detox will likely be sent out of county. Supervisors directed staff to find a way to contract with the local provider for extra beds.
Lawsuit against Sunny Slope Water District
The county is suing the Sunny Slope Water District for ignoring a public records request since May — and wants its attorney fees back.
Sheriff's Department Cost Savings Proposal
A supporting document outlined roughly $1.04 million in potential savings if several Sheriff's positions go unfunded, alongside retention bonus and longevity pay proposals for law enforcement and probation staff — a staffing-versus-budget question with public safety implications.
AMR ambulance contract extension and rural response times
The AMR contract extension to 2029 was tabled after supervisors questioned whether rural response times of 30 minutes are realistic for South County and whether the county has an exit clause before a potential fire/EMS special district forms.
ICE detention facility near Gilroy and county amicus participation
A private ICE detention facility is planned just south of the county line near Gilroy, and more than a dozen residents urged the board to join the lawsuit against it. After closed session, the county authorized joining the amicus brief supporting Santa Clara County and the Attorney General's suit.
Esperanza Wellness Center repurposing
Prop 1 means the county can no longer fund the downtown wellness center as a standalone drop-in site; it will now host treatment screening, therapy, forensic court teams and a new housing navigation team to justify its ~$203,000 annual cost.
Animal control services overhaul
The county pays more than the city of Hollister for shelter services that supervisors say have degraded — limited hours, no large-animal capacity. The ad hoc will explore partnerships with Pet Friends, other nonprofits, or a San Martin/Santa Clara County facility.
Pride Month proclamation restored
After being canceled last year, June 2026 is again LGBTQ Pride Month in San Benito County — approved 4-1. Speakers said the proclamation signals that LGBTQ neighbors, especially youth, belong in the community.
Veterans services contract with Monterey County
A three-year, $480,000 contract keeps the local veterans services office running — and it pays for itself many times over, returning roughly $2.7 million in benefits to San Benito veterans and families this year.
EMS Billing with City of Hollister
The Board was scheduled to act on a resolution involving City of Hollister emergency medical services invoices, which touches on how ambulance service costs are shared between the county and the city.