The Santa Maria City Council has appointed Richardo Batalla to fill the District One seat, which became vacant following the unexpected resignation of Carlos Escobedo in early March. Batalla, a youth development director for the Santa Maria YMCA, was sworn in after a 3-1 council vote, with Councilmember Gloria Soto dissenting. He emphasized priorities such as supporting young people, affordable housing, and public safety. His appointment is temporary, bridging the gap until a special election scheduled for November.
In addition to this appointment, the council is addressing a significant budget deficit of $25.1 million. Recent measures include delaying or canceling various capital improvement projects, notably within the Recreation and Parks Department, which faced reductions exceeding $4.3 million. To explore new revenue streams, the council has allocated up to $36,500 to hire DHM Research for public opinion surveys and ballot measure polling services. Potential options under consideration include sales tax, parcel tax, or rental tax adjustments.
These developments highlight the council’s proactive steps in maintaining effective governance and fiscal responsibility during challenging times.