Santa Barbara city staff, still working to address a $9-million General Fund deficit by attempting to cut city employee salary and benefit costs across the board, reached a tentative concession agreement on 3/30 with the Supervisors Association. According to city Employee Relations Manager Kristine Schmidt, up to 10 percent in salary and benefit concessions were agreed to by the bargaining unit for next year and also relinquishing a planned 1.5 percent salary increase. Combined with other concessions, the reductions will reportedly generate $890,000 in cost savings citywide, with more than $430,000 going toward the General Fund.
