Plans For New Santa Barbara Courthouse Slashed - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Plans for a new courthouse in Santa Barbara have been slashed by a third.

The project will no longer include a new courthouse but expand the existing criminal courthouse on Figueroa Street.

Santa Barbara Superior Court Executive Gary Blair had to present a case before court officials in order to get the project spared.

He says the major concern is the lack of security at the current building.

He says the building is not constructed to be a modern day criminal courthouse and is deteriorating.

He along with Judge Brian Hill will present their new scaled-down plans for final approval by the California Judicial Council, which will make its final decision on October 26th.