Santa Barbara County Board Approves $139 Million Expansion of Northern Branch Jail

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to award a $138.65 million design‑build contract to Sletten Construction for expanding the Northern Branch Jail. The contract includes a $6.9 million contingency, bringing the projected total cost of the project to about $167.38 million.

The expansion will add 1.5 housing units, creating 384 new beds organized into six 64‑bed pods. Officials said the design‑build approach will allow input from the contractor, county departments and the public, and retains flexibility to adjust the layout if the jail population continues to decline. The project addresses aging facilities at the Main Jail, past overcrowding issues and a 2017 class‑action lawsuit that required major jail system reforms.

In the same meeting, supervisors approved the restoration of 15 county health‑department positions that had been cut, and earmarked funds to cover additional code‑compliance and equipment needs through 2030.