Jail funding -vs- road funding goes head to head

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors point out they don't have unlimited funds.  Next month, however, they'll come together with county officials to hammer out next year's fiscal budget.

Department heads will make their respective cases next month, they said, and among those topics will be how the county is going to pay for increased jail operations cost once the new detention center opens its doors.

Construction at the North County facility isn't due to complete until 2018, but it's expected the annual cost to run that jail will be more than $17 million a year.

The challenge, according to supervisors, reportedly relates to a ballot measure that will require the county come up with upward of $21 million per year for road maintenance.   If the measure passes, they said, it's going to put the county in a tight spot.

Two corrections officers attacked last month

Santa Barbara County Jail officials have confirmed that two deputies were attacked while on the job last month.  The incident, according to a source within the jail, happened after minimum staffing levels were implemented.

Some have reportedly said that had more deputies been on the clock, the attack could have been prevented.

Union officials have expressed their concerns to the sheriff's department and they hope to find a workable resolution to the problem.

The jails, they said, are responsible for more than simply keeping criminals behind bars.  Those in charge are also responsible for making sure staff members are kept safe while on the job.