Longtime Santa Barbara County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato will retire in July after transforming the office and being awarded more power than her predecessors. 

The Board of Supervisors has so much faith in her leadership that it granted extra authority to the job – but only as long as she’s in it. 

Miyasato, who has held the job since October 2013, is among the longest-tenured county executives in the state. 

She plans to retire in July but “will remain fully engaged” until then to support succession planning and the budget adoption process, said county spokeswoman Kelsey Gerckens Buttitta. The county holds budget workshops each April, and supervisors adopt a budget in June.

The county will conduct a nationwide search for her replacement. 

“Serving Santa Barbara County has been the honor of my professional career,” Miyasato said in a statement. 

“Together, we modernized county operations, strengthened our safety net and justice system, invested in critical infrastructure, and communicated transparently, even during times of crisis. As we prepare for this transition, our focus remains steady: delivering essential services, supporting our workforce, and upholding the trust of our residents.”

Miyasato has emphasized the importance of public information and prioritized improvements to the criminal justice system, the county said. She also guided the county’s budget from the challenges of the Great Recession to a period of stable, “status quo” budgets for several years. 

“Under her leadership, the county restored fiscal stability, fully funded its strategic reserve, earned the highest available bond rating (AAA) awarded to a public agency, implemented disciplined multi-year financial planning, and positioned itself to eliminate its pension unfunded liability by 2031,” Gerckens Buttitta said in the statement. 

Now, however, the county is facing a potential $23-million deficit for the next fiscal year, according to the five-year forecast. The projected deficit more than doubles in the following year, partially due to federal and state funding cuts. 

“I haven’t seen anything this large since my time at the county, so that’s very daunting,” Miyasato said in December. 

The county is well positioned to face those challenges, she said in a statement Friday when announcing the retirement. 

“This transition reflects a planned process and my commitment to help finalize the FY 2026-27 budget so that my successor inherits a clear and stable path forward.”

Miyasato has been at the helm during the county’s response to major events and disasters including the Thomas Fire, Montecito debris flows, deadly winter storms, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Refugio Oil Spill. 

“Mona Miyasato’s leadership over the past 12 years has been extraordinary,” Board of Supervisors Chair Bob Nelson said in a statement.

“Through periods of significant challenge and change, she has guided the county with integrity, steadiness, and a deep commitment to public service. Her work strengthened the organization, elevated our leadership team, and positioned the county to thrive well into the future. The strong foundation she leaves in place ensures that this organization will continue to succeed and serve our communities with excellence.”

In 2022, the supervisors increased the county executive officer’s authority as a sign of confidence in her leadership. She can remove appointed department heads without board approval and assign assistant CEOs to directly supervise department directors. 

In 2023, she restructured the office with assistant CEOs and deputy CEOs and assigned them specific departments and programs to oversee.