Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Cruz County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
2 issues in taxes budget with high priority
County use of artificial intelligence
The county is moving from scattered employee AI use to a governed enterprise program: one platform (Claude or ChatGPT), training for 85% of knowledge workers by year-end, a public-facing chatbot, and an internal AI advisory subcommittee. Supervisors pressed staff to form that subcommittee sooner and to guarantee AI won't replace workers.
General Assistance program overhaul
The county's $809 monthly cash grant — the highest in California — costs have tripled in seven years. The Board approved a three-month limit for non-disabled adults, a $50 benefit cut, and a bigger push to move people onto federal SSI, starting July 2027.