Santa Cruz County limited on funds to tackle climate change disasters

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV): Santa Cruz County appears limited on funds​ and what they can do in terms of storm recovery efforts after several rounds of extreme weather events.

Santa Cruz County leaders said the county had to pay out of their own funds on natural disasters, like fires, storms and even the global pandemic.

"In 2017, over the last many years, we've had 7 different federally declared disasters," said Santa Cruz County Budget Manager, Marcus Pimentel, "We've paid up front 250 million out of our county funds to recover and try to rebuild from all the disasters, whether it was 2017 storms, the CZU fireand the 2023 storms."

Pimentel said the federal government owes them an estimated $143 million in reimbursement because the federal government is responsible for disaster relief.

The county said even more claims need to be filed.

Pimentel said since they've been funding their own climate disaster response, now they're being limited with money and need to think fast.

"We're going to the board on May 14th, the board of supervisors, with a financing package, to finance up to 85 million to help us fund those projects from 2023," said Pimentel. "We are still limited on doing all the projects, but we've identified a high priority of projects that we want to get back and repair the roadways, the bridges, the culverts and get those back on operation."

The county said there is a possibility of them getting more loans, if FEMA doesn't pay fast enough. Pimentel said they're hoping the federal government will give them a reimbursement of at least 80% of every project they do.

Pimentel says Santa Cruz County is small and they can't sustain the level of repeated natural disasters

"We've had rain events that damaged roadways in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021," said Pimentel. "Many of them have had small to large federal declarations, we just can't sustain that level of climate disaster going forward, we've been having a lot of conversations with our federal representatives, with FEMA representatives, about what we see as a reform that is needed. "

County officials are concerned funds will be depleted, with major storms pounding the coast line every 2 to 3 years.

"Especially coastal communities, they're kinda in the front line of being impacted because of sea level rise, and because intensification storms." said San Jose State Climate profess , Eugene Cordero.

Santa Cruz County said this is their biggest capital debt issue.

"It's not normal for us to issue 85 million dollars in new debt, just to pay for damages in the past," said Pimentel, "It's going to be a challenge for us to keep sustaining this level of response, if we have another big disaster in 2024 and 2025, it's going to be hard for us to recover from that."

San Benito County said they have outstanding claims from COVID-19 and 2023 storms. County officials say FEMA owes them just under $4 million.

Monterey County said they are just starting the yearly budgeting process now, and they anticipate a tight year, but they will know more as process progresses.