Orcutt library proposal advances: ‘an absolute need’

They turned a page, but the ending to this story isn t written yet. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors said Tuesday that building a library in Orcutt should be a priority project—even at a cost between $29 and $44 million. Time will tell if the project actually lands in a future budget. “I admit. When the numbers came out on this project, there was sticker shock for me,” said Board Chair Bob Nelson, whose Fourth District would be home to the new library, a proposal that dates back 30 years. “I had a lot of heartburn.”Still, “this is an important investment to be making,” Nelson said, comparing Orcutt and its 30,000 residents to Goleta, which is similar in size and has a library. In a 4-0 vote in Santa Maria, the supervisors decided to explore potential funding strategies that include debt financing. They also directed county staff to get a better understanding of ongoing operational expenses, and to consider the costs of multiple potential designs. “It’s an a