Memorandum
Date: June 23, 2026
To: Honorable Brad Rasmussen, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Subject: Consideration of (a) Declaring an Informal Hiring Freeze and Directing Staff to Implement an Informal Hiring Freeze for All General Fund Positions Effective July 1, 2026; and (b) Authorizing the County Administrative Officer to approve Hiring Freeze Waiver Requests Where Critical to Continuity of County Operations or Otherwise in the Overwhelming County Interest
Executive Summary:
Pursuant to your Board’s discussion during Budget Hearings of Monday, June 15, through, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Administrative Office staff continue to evaluate options to reduce General Fund expenditures while preserving essential functions during these uncertain and difficult financial times.
On Monday, June 15, 2026, I indicated staff would return with options for a Hiring Freeze. Your Board’s deliberations, and Department Head input, demonstrated the difficulty of allowing broad-based discretion under circumstances such as these; truly, there are a range of conditions wherein adding positions and new spending can seem well justified, and it is also essential that we appropriately address the significance of the conditions we are facing.
Therefore, effective July 1, 2026, and pursuant to County of Lake Personnel Rule 502, I recommend your Board authorize an Informal Hiring Freeze on recruitments for all General Fund permanent and Extra Help positions.
Pursuant to County of Lake Personnel Rule 502, staff recommends your Board authorize the County Administrative Officer to approve Hiring Freeze Waivers, in consultation with fiscal and Human Resources staff. For situations where it is critical to the continuity of County operations or similarly in the County’s overwhelming interest that a position is filled (e.g.: continuing legally mandated or mission critical services; public health and safety or emergency response; essential to revenue protection), Department Heads may submit a Hiring Freeze Waiver Request Form (attached). Administration’s Draft form is attached.
While non-General Fund positions are not recommended to be subject to an Informal Hiring Freeze at this time, staff additionally recommends your Board consider inclusion of these non-General Fund positions into this Informal Hiring Freeze at Final Budget (September 2026). Finally, staff recommends the Informal Hiring Freeze on recruitments for all General Fund positions remain in effect through at least early-mid December 2026, at which time the Administration Office will provide a robust update on County finances, and options for your Board, moving forward.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☒ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: (a) Declare an Informal Hiring Freeze and Direct Staff to Implement an Informal Hiring Freeze for All General Fund Positions Effective July 1, 2026; and (b) Authorize the County Administrative Officer to approve Hiring Freeze Waiver Requests Where Critical to Continuity of County Operations or Otherwise in the Overwhelming County Interest.