The recent census reveals that Santa Cruz County’s population grew by 2.7 percent over the past decade. It also found that the new population is considerably older. The number of youth in the county dropped by almost 9 percent, or 5,323 people. The county is getting older.
While some officials are struggling to figure out why, some local residents think the answer is obvious. Despite the recession, housing prices remain sky-high, and Santa Cruz is now classed as the third most expensive place to rent a home in the United States. That makes it difficult for young families just starting out who want to take advantage of the beach and the mountains, the skate parks and the local music scene, but who simply can’t afford it.
The finding will have an impact on already strained budget items like schools and libraries. Enrollment is down in local schools, with high schools in the Santa Cruz City School District having 14 percent fewer students than they did a decade ago. These figures can be used to justify further cuts to staff, including teachers, and to various activities. It now remains for the city to decide whether it wants to fit the model of an aging community or whether it will take steps to encourage more young families to settle and stay here. Either decision will impact the budget over the next few years. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
