County employees and residents urge Yolo supervisors to spare layoffs and keep Winters service office open

Dozens of county employees and Winters residents used the general public comment period to press the Yolo County Board of Supervisors to reverse or pare back proposed staffing cuts that would eliminate multiple Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) positions and close the Winters service center.

Around 17 people addressed supervisors during the May 5 meeting, many speaking as HHSA staff whose positions appear in attachments E and F of the proposed budget. Amanda Skibbe, a county employee who began her remarks saying she spoke “on behalf of my dedicated workforce,” warned that “the cost of laying off your workers is far too high” and urged the board to pursue furloughs, temporary golden‑handshake incentives and other alternatives that preserve institutional knowledge.

Several eligibility and service center workers described the Winters HHSA office as a lifeline for elderly and transportation‑limited residents who rely on in‑person help with CalFresh, Medi‑Cal and IHSS. Anna Loza, an eligibility worker, said the county projects roughly $77,000 in annual savings from closing the Winters site and called that “a modest fiscal gain” that does not justify the “substantial and immediate human cost to Winters’ families.” Maria Vargas, a program supervisor, told the board the office issues EBT cards, medi‑cal aid cards and takes payments—services she said many residents could not replicate elsewhere because public transportation there is limited.

Child welfare staff also spoke. Brianna Craft, a supervisor in intake and emergency response, said past cuts left the agency with high caseloads and warned further reductions risked delays in court timelines, incomplete assessments and possible loss of federal funding. “This proposal goes even further by eliminating vacancies along with field support staff,” she said. Shelby Haney, an investigating social worker, told supervisors that “qualification does not equal availability” and described already‑stretched teams and turnover.

Multiple commenters who identified themselves as analysts, permit and permit‑tech staff, and other office support staff described how their work supports timely benefits, billing, permits and other county functions—warning that reduced staffing could create operational backlogs and public safety risks for construction and permitting customers.

Clerk and board procedures limited remarks to two minutes apiece. Chair Allen told the audience the Brown Act prevented board members from responding during the comment period but said the board had read letters and intended to consider the concerns during upcoming budget discussions.

The board has before it a list of proposed reductions across general‑fund and HHSA non‑general‑fund positions as it seeks to close an estimated $35.7 million general‑fund structural gap for FY 2026–27. Staff and supervisors subsequently debated revenue measures and other options during the agenda item on revenue generation (see separate article). The board did not take final action on layoffs during the meeting; staff were directed to return with additional analyses and the board asked the ad hoc revenue committee to continue exploring alternatives.

Ending: Supervisors said they will continue budget deliberations and expect final budget decisions in June. Public commenters who raised concerns at the May 5 meeting were told their letters and remarks were part of the record for that process.