The Santa Barbara County Park Department maintains 83 parks and 53 open spaces. It employs 80 employees and has a budget of approximately 7 million dollars. A County Park Commission, made up of a private citizen from each supervisorial district, provides advice to the Park Department and the Board of Supervisors. It also serves as a liaison to the community. The Grand Jury was concerned with the use of County funds to provide housing for some Park Department employees.
Some housing is provided as a condition of employment.
Additional housing is available to other Park Department employees. The presence of private citizens living at Lake Cachuma and the physical condition of Park structures at many sites were also concerns. The Grand Jury made numerous visits to County parks and open spaces, including Lake Cachuma and the County Park Administration Center. Interviews were held with the Park Department Director and the Deputy Park Department Directors. The Grand Jury also interviewed Park Rangers and some members of the County Park Commission.