Kern County Supervisors have approved a hiring freeze and the elimination of 177 vacant positions.The plan intends to help deal with a budget shortfall. Tuesday morning’s vote wasn’t without dissent as Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt and Auditor/Controller Mary Bedard told the board it sends a message the county is not recruiting for new employees. Exceptions to the freeze will be decided by the Administrative Officer.

Sean Michael Lisle