Library Services Services in Santa Barbara County are delivered by the cities of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Each city is responsible for a certain zone, and the county contribution, determined annually, is based on the number of inhabitants in a zone. Library money also comes from the state, the cities, Friends of the Library groups, and county service area benefit assessments.
Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County The Mosquito and Vector Management District of Santa Barbara County (District) is an independent special district that controls and monitors disease-carrying insects, rodents, and other vectors such as mosquitoes. In addition, the District regularly tests for diseases carried by these vectors and educates the public in regard to protection from and reducing the probability of contracting such diseases. In addition to its mosquito abatement and vector control services, the District provides education programs on vectors and disease prevention at school and civic group meetings. The District maintains and distributes printed material and brochures that describe what citizens can do to keep their homes and property free of rats, yellow jackets, mosquitoes, and other pests. The District is funded by Ad Valorem property taxes and a benefit assess ment paid by the property owners in two specific areas of the southern county. The District operates as a Trustee-Manager form of local government, with an eight member Board of Trustees (Board). Three members are appointed by the cities located within the benefit assessment areas (Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and Goleta) and five members are appointed by the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors.
County Office of Education The County Office of Education is a liaison between the State Department of Education and the twenty-three local school districts. The office operates educational programs such as court schools, regional occupational centers that provide job-related training, special education classes and schools for handicapped students. It provides administrative and support services to smaller school districts and distributes instructional materials to all districts. In this county the County Superintendent of Schools is elected every four years. The County Board of Education’s seven members are elected by district.
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