Santa Barbara County could lay off more than 100 people in multiple departments as a way to balance budget shortfalls ahead of next year.

The county’s Social Services and Public Health departments have proposed eliminating a total of 176 positions between the two, according to county staff reports released Thursday.

The reports were submitted to the county Board of Supervisors, which is set to meet in Santa Barbara on Tuesday to discuss and vote on the plans during its weekly meeting.

Social Services proposes laying off an estimated 65 full-time employees by the beginning of 2026. The plan would include a mixture of vacant and filled positions.

“This plan will result in a reduction of 121 funded positions effective January 5, 2026. The change will result in the layoff of some employees, effective January 5, 2026, estimated at 65 (full-time employees),” according to the staff report.

The announcements about the layoffs come as the departments face budget shortfalls.

Social Services is reporting a $7.4 million shortfall for the 2025-26 fiscal year. It plans to cover $4.6 million of the shortfall through the proposed layoffs and other reductions.

The Board of Supervisors approved a $2.8 million payment from its General County Programs fund to cover the rest of the shortfall for the current fiscal year, but the department will have to find a way to cover the shortfall for fiscal year 2026-27.

The department cited modest revenue that has been outpaced by rising operating costs, including “wages, benefits, service delivery expenses (such as countywide IT charges, utilities, lease and facility maintenance costs, and liability insurance).”

The report stated that it was able to make up the difference in the budget gap using outside funding, but as those funds ran out, the department found that it had recurring obligations and was providing services that exceeded its revenue.

“The result is a structural deficit that requires difficult choices about staffing, programs and service levels to bring expenditures back in line with reliable funding,” according to the report.

The report also stated that Social Services plans to reorganize divisions, consolidate branches and keep open job positions vacant when possible. It also will eliminate non-emergency overtime, reduce non-essential travel, training, and car and computer replacements.

Public Health also is eliminating full-time positions to balance its budget. The department has proposed eliminating 55 positions, which will include laying off an estimated 36 employees, by Jan. 5.

A staff report stated that it expects to decrease annual expected revenue by $5,186,482.

Public Health said losses in revenue are related to changes at the federal level that will prevent its health centers from serving patients with “unsatisfactory immigration status.”

Although there is a court injunction in California to stop the changes, Public Health said it is not sure how long the injunction will last, and making changes now will allow patients to prepare.

“Beginning the process of transitioning patients now ensures continuity of care and gives patients control of their medical decisions so they have time to choose a provider,” the staff report stated.

Public Health estimates that 25% of Medi-Cal patients who use the county’s health centers are undocumented immigrants and will not be able to be treated. That could total 7,500 patients who can no longer use county medical services.

The department said it will begin working with community partners to help transfer undocumented patients by Jan. 1.

It also is preparing to scale back the services it offers as an additional cost-cutting measure. Those services could include different areas of internal medicine, such as neurology, orthopedics and urology.

Other services that could be eliminated include the clinical laboratory for blood draw stations and pregnancy testing, service for diabetics and postpartum care.

The departments are expected to bring their proposals to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. in the Board Hearing Room on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.