Public commenters and staff told the Board of Supervisors that the county faces an immediate loss of local animal-care capacity after the Humane Society announced a planned shutdown; county staff said they can help with adoption clinics and workforce transition but cannot assume long-term operations now without new funding (estimated at about $360,000/year).

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted July 8, 2026 to send a proposed permanent $1.5 million increase to the 1979–80 base expenditure limit to the Nov. 3 ballot. The public hearing featured sharp questions about delayed audits and multiple pleas to prioritize a new animal-control facility.

Finance reported county cash-and-investment balances and a treasury-system transition to PNC and a new Collect Harris system with a July 20 go-live; the board unanimously approved filling a vacant detention corporal position and renewed the jail'medical contract with Advanced Correctional Health Care (5.82% price increase) during jail-district proceedings.

County staff proposed a permanent $1.5 million increase to the 1979 statutory base that, officials say, would raise Santa Cruz County's expenditure cap from about $30 million toward $50 million; presenters said the change is not a tax increase and would be placed on the ballot if the board refers it and voters approve.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved submission of two Opportunity Zones 2.0 census tracts to the Arizona Commerce Authority and ranked track 108 (Rio Rico west of I-19) as the county's first priority, directing county management to submit the recommendation; staff said both tracts are strong candidates but send different investment signals.