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Gibson and Dow battle over SLO County District Attorney Office funding

May 20, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson and District Attorney Dan Dow clashed on Tuesday over funding for the prosecutors’ office, a partisan dispute that could result in a lawsuit.

Amid the past several years of budget cuts, Dow’s office cut five positions saving the county $3.5 million. Dow is now seeking an additional $857,839 — less than one-tenth of 1% of the county’s budget, for five positions needed to fulfill “legally mandated investigative and prosecutorial functions,” Dow said.

During an introduction of the county’s 2026-2027 fiscal year budget, Dow argued that staffing has not kept pace with “increases in workload — particularly the surge in digital evidence, body-worn camera footage, and in-car video that has transformed case preparation.”

“Consistent with Hicks v. Orange County, Scott v. Common Council of San Bernardino, Government Code sections 25303 and 29601, and the California Constitution, the District Attorney hereby places the county executive office and the Board of Supervisors on formal notice that a budget failing to fund these requests crosses from a legitimate fiscal decision into an action that unlawfully impairs the public prosecutor’s constitutionally and statutorily mandated duties,”  Dow told the SLO County Board of Supervisors.

Gibson responded to Dow’s request for additional funding with a demand to know he was threatening the board.

“Dan, that is an impressive display of posturing,” Gibson said. “But I have to ask with your formal notice to the board of supervisors, are you threatening to sue the county if you do not get your way?”

“It is not a threat, it is a legal reality,” Dow said. “But, if I do not advise your board of the constitutional requirements and impacts, I am not doing my job.”

Supervisor John Peschong recommend the county administrative office continues to work with Dow regarding additional funding. The SLO County Board of Supervisor budget hearing is scheduled for June 8.

 


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10 Comments

The majority of citizens want supervisors, not activists, to govern our county. Please do the right thing.


4

From here on out, I will haunt that falling over left DemoNcrat Bruce Gibson wherever that “detriment to REAL Americans” aspires to go next.


Btw, at least 1/8th of that shortfall the DA needs to fill could have been partially filled with recent TAXPAYER FUNDS that the DemoNcrat leaning BOS ILLEGALLY gave (gave away) to organizations that help ILLEGAL INVADERS in this county. ILLEGAL means ILLEGAL!


#SaveSLOCounty (for the REAL taxpayers)


#Vote4AdamVerdin

#Vote4Woody


13

We can never be considered a lawless County, factually we live better when we have a well-funded DA organization. Certainly, our first responders need to be funded to be ready, and our public works is absolutely a benefit of taxation, and we can’t afford deferred maintenance because the catch-up cost is even greater. So why argue, there is much we don’t need to fund but somehow, we forget adults can be responsible for themselves. If you don’t want to work, fine, the consequences are yours to own.


7

If the BOS doesn’t want to provide appropriate funding for a constitutionally required office and if Dan can prove his case, then take them to court and let a judge “school” the board on its duties.


18

Gibson’s appointed predecessor Jim Dantona has said that he’s not going to work with the DA’s office if he wins. What a mess these people are.


73

Yes, Bruce, it’s the law. Dow is sworn to follow the law. Surprisingly…..so are you.


18

Gibson is an idiot. It is most fortunate that he decided not to run again – his reign cannot end soon enough.


87

You are aware Jim Dantona is just a clone of Gibson and he is being groomed to continue Gibson’s style of politics. If Dantona wins expect more of of the same regarding how Gibson treats people.


68

So what are YOU doing to assure that does NOT happen?


Are you a volunteer in the Woody campain to assure he wins the seat?


I hope the answer is yes in any form outside of just yammering on this board.


To all of you, GET UP AND VOLUNTEER FOR THE NEXT SET OF ELECTIONS IN 2026!


Be part of the solution!


7

*campaign


3