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San Luis Obispo County planning layoffs to cover budget deficit

August 5, 2020

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is considering eliminating nearly 28 full-time positions and laying off two workers as it grapples with a $26.3 million budget shortfall that has arisen amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the 27.75 full-time equivalent positions county officials are considering cutting, 25.75 are vacant and two are filled. County officials have notified the two employees who may be laid off and are providing them assistance, according to county administrators. 

“This is a very difficult decision. Just like any local employer, we rely on our employees to provide quality services and the last thing we want to do is cut positions,” County Administrative Officer Wade Horton said in a statement. “We care about employees and want to continue providing important public services to the people of SLO County when they need our help the most.”

A decrease in consumer spending amid the pandemic has resulted in a significant loss of revenue. Simultaneously, county expenditures are increasing because of the pandemic response and a higher demand for public services.

Previously in June, the board of supervisors approved $6.5 million in departmental budget cuts. The budget cuts made eliminating certain positions unavoidable, according to the county.

The initial cuts included eliminating funding for equipment replacement, training and office supplies. County department heads then examined vacant positions in attempts to avoid layoffs.

Also in June, the board of supervisor approved $6.9 million in employee concessions, as well as the use of $12.8 million of reserves.

The board will address the budget deficit and potential layoffs when it meets on Aug. 11.


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“25.75 are vacant” … LMFAO … This is obscene. Time for an initiative taxpayer rebellion.


27

30% downturn in GDP. How about a 30% across the board pay cut, starting with Administration positions.

Supervisors can cut their pay by 2/3. We can cut the County Sheriff’s $50 million budget by 20%. That would save $10 million alone.


As a note; Sheriff $50 million, the combined total of County Fire $18 Million, Behavioral Health $13 million, DA $11 million, Public Health $8.6 million is $51.6 million. There is some room to cut here with the Sheriff. Our crime rate does not warrant a budget this high.


-17

Maybe our crime rate is low because we support an effective sheriff’s department?


33

Local gov’t needs to be run like a business in a competitive market. We need to have out local act together especially with state and federal gov’t’s spending so out of control. Nothing is sacred.


2

My crime rate is low because I have good neighbors, I am engaged in my community, and our economy is relatively strong.


Areas that don’t possess these things have higher crime rates. Policing simply reacts to these conditions, they do not create them.


I support effective policing too. When 1 department has a budget 5 times higher than all others you should begin to examine their efficiency.

Every other thing government does is in-efficient, but not the Sheriff? Is that the argument?

I love how conservatives set aside the tenants of their own beliefs when they are inconvenient.

If you’re consistent in your beliefs you’d examine the Sheriff too.


-12

Good.


21

How about anyone whose salary exceeds $55,000 take a percentage salary reduction until such time as sufficient revenue is realized to balance the budget without raising taxes.


23

Interesting that the County has to tighten their belts like the rest of us!

During the last downturn/recession the Fed sent stimulus out to government entities for shovel ready projects, the entities used most of the money for salaries and pension costs with little or any layoffs, shovel ready projects, not so much.

This time around the Fed sent it to the public and private businesses. What a difference, people are, at least not yet, making their house payments and keeping food on the table!!

Real estate has stayed stable, banks aren’t being bailed out, the regular folks may be scraping by, but so far most are still making it!!!

The layoffs and not filling vacant positions should of happened a long time ago, the unfunded pension time bomb is ticking louder and louder, and had nothing to do with Covid, but it is causing municipalities to deal with their existing pyramid scheme…..

Of course most have thrown their hat in the ring to increase sales taxes, we’ll be inundated with ads soon telling us how it’s needed for Public Safety, not Planners and other mid level bureaucrats!!!!


25

So basically they are not doing anything to trim the fat …2 of the lowest paid are getting canned with a healthy severance …..The 25.75 don’t exist yet ….Yep they are going to raise every fee and tax plus create new fees and taxes


25

How about cutting those insane pensions? Why are the rest of us on the hook for these people for the rest of their lives? Did any of us non-government employees vote on that? Such a scam.


26

Lay Off Adam Hill.


34

well that should do it. “cut “25.75” empty positions, 2 filled ones. ok, the fat is cut, time to raise taxes!


44

How right you are! All cities (except AG) have tax increases on ballot in Nov. Every voter needs to look at the spending habits of their cities and decide if paying them more is the answer.

Just like the vast majority of families, city and county governments need to tighten their own belts.

Vote NO on all tax in creases.


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