Santa Barbara County

In response to budget cuts, Santa Barbara County has issued layoff notices to 84 employees. This decision reflects the county's ongoing financial challenges and the need to reduce expenditures. The layoffs are part of a broader effort to address budgetary constraints affecting various departments. The county aims to stabilize its finances while continuing to provide essential services to the community. This move underscores the impact of fiscal pressures on local government operations.

Santa Barbara County, the region's second-largest employer, adopted a $1.66 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 that includes program cuts and more than 30 layoffs. County officials had initially projected needing more than 200 layoffs but reduced that by over 80% through budget tightening and employee reassignments. The cuts are attributed to federal and state funding reductions and revenue shortfalls, and the new county CEO Jana Petersen cited ongoing uncertainty about future funding as a major challenge. Petersen takes over responsibilities amid these workforce reductions while focusing on priorities such as climate change, equity and maintaining essential services.