Mona Miyasato to Retire as Santa Barbara County Executive Officer in July 2026

Santa Barbara County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato announced she will retire in July 2026 and will remain engaged over the next six months to support leadership transition and lead adoption of the FY 2026-27 budget.

Santa Barbara County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato announced she plans to retire in July 2026 after more than twelve years of service. She will remain fully engaged over the next six months to ensure continuity of operations, support leadership succession planning, and lead adoption of the County's FY 2026-27 budget. During her tenure, she led organizational modernization and the implementation of major enterprise systems, and she guided the county through several major emergencies and recovery efforts. County leaders praised her steady leadership and said a national recruitment process will begin to fill the role. Key details: - Miyasato joined Santa Barbara County in 2013 and has served as County Executive Officer for over a decade. - She will remain in post through July 2026 and will help finalize the FY 2026-27 budget and support succession planning. - Her administration implemented systems such as the Workday financial and HR platform, a new electronic budgeting system, and an online financial transparency tool. - She spearheaded the creation of a standalone Information Technology Department, countywide GIS, and electronic permitting. - Miyasato expanded public communication efforts, increased homeless services and housing approaches, and advanced diversion strategies that reduced the jail population for some individuals with mental illness. - Under her leadership the county restored fiscal stability, fully funded its Strategic Reserve, earned the AAA bond rating, and positioned itself to address pension liabilities by 2031. Summary: Miyasato's announced retirement sets in motion a planned leadership transition while she helps complete the upcoming fiscal year budget. The Board of Supervisors and the Human Resources Department will initiate a national recruitment process for the County Executive Officer position. County officials say established governance and fiscal measures are in place to support continuity during the transition.