City of Santa Barbara Closed for Two Weeks
Response to Budget Deficits Prompts Planned Closures, Furloughs, and Unpaid Leave
Most City of Santa Barbara administrative offices and facilities will be closed from Monday, December 20, 2010 through Friday, December 31, 2010 due to furlough or unpaid leave for employees. Offices will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2011. The Central and Eastside Libraries will reopen on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.
To close the City’s budget deficit, all City employees agreed to significant labor concessions, generating approximately $4 million in savings to the General Fund. For many groups, these concessions included a furlough or unpaid leave during the holidays and key dates throughout the upcoming year.
While most offices will be closed, many services will continue to be available, including harbor patrol, building inspections, and critical repair services for streets, water, sewer, and parks.
– The 9-1-1 dispatch service for police and fire emergencies will continue operating during this time. LiveScan fingerprinting will not be conducted during the furlough period.
– The City’s airport, marina, golf course, and public parking lots will remain open. Recreation and community facilities open for business include the following: the Golf Club, Los Baños Pool, Westside Community Center, Carrillo Gym, Carrillo Recreation Center Ballroom, Cabrillo Arts Center, and Cabrillo Bathhouse. Several facilities and community centers will operate with special holiday hours.
– Water, sewer, and trash bill payments can be mailed or dropped off at City Hall. Payments will be processed and credited to accounts throughout the closure period. Cash payments will be accepted at the Cashier’s Office at City Hall by December 17 or when offices reopen on January 3, 2011.
– While the Central and Eastside Libraries will close during the furlough, the libraries in Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria, and Solvang will remain open. Library materials will not be due during the closure period. Fines will continue to accumulate on past due items. To avoid late fees, library materials should be returned to drop boxes when libraries are closed. Materials can be renewed on the Library’s website.
For more detailed information on office closures and services available, visit the City’s website.