Santa Barbara County Issues 84 Layoff Notices (47 from Public Health) + Public Health Pharmacy Closures — Largest Central Coast Safety-Net Cut of 2026

Santa Barbara County issued layoff notices May 10-13 for 84 positions effective June 30, 2026: 47 from Public Health, 31 from Social Services, 5 Sheriff's, 1 Fire. The proposed cuts also close county-run pharmacies for uninsured patients in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, leaving Lompoc as the only remaining option. Pharmacy closures will redirect uninsured prescription volume to SBNC, CHC of the Central Coast, and Marian Community Clinics with no offsetting funding. Strategic implication for Central Coast FQHC executives: (1) model uninsured Rx absorption costs by June 30 — sliding-fee margin compression imminent; (2) coordinate with SBNC, CHC Central Coast, Marian on patient navigation handoffs from closing pharmacies; (3) escalate to county supervisors before June 24 budget hearing — pharmacy closure is reversible; (4) engage CCALAC for emergency state offset advocacy parallel to CSAC $6.4B demand; (5) brief boards on Public Health staffing collapse signal — workforce ripple effects to FQHC public health partnerships likely. This is the largest Central Coast safety-net layoff event tracked since SBNC $5M Wyatt donation (positive offset) earlier this year.