COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAILS OFF INTO THE SUNSET, LEAVING TAXPAYERS A PARTING 'GIFT'

The Santa Barbara Independent, ever the fawning chronicler of establishment triumphs, recently ran a glowing send-off for departing County Chief Executive Mona Miyasato, breathlessly detailing her 'transformative tenure.' One might wonder what exactly was transformed, besides the county budget, which now resembles a bottomless pit, or perhaps the average taxpayer's patience, which has certainly been stretched to its limits.

Thirteen years, they say. That's a good long run for anyone in a job, but in government, it means 13 years of unchecked growth in departments, programs, and, naturally, the compensation packages for those at the top. We're told of her 'visionary leadership,' which, for those of us actually paying the bills, often looked suspiciously like more regulations, more fees, and more obstacles for productive citizens trying to earn a living in this increasingly expensive paradise. One can only imagine the 'standing ovation' from the same County Supervisors who rubber-stamped every single one of her empire-building initiatives.

The real story, of course, isn't the teary goodbyes from the county’s ever-swelling administrative ranks. It’s the quiet escalation of pension liabilities and the burgeoning cost of governance that will continue long after Ms. Miyasato has traded her executive chair for a well-deserved, taxpayer-funded golden parachute. This wasn't a departure; it was a carefully choreographed exit, paving the way for the next unelected bureaucrat to step in and continue the proud Santa Barbara tradition of managing prosperity into obscurity.

While the Independent celebrates her 'historic' reign, the truly historic aspect might be the unprecedented levels of spending and the almost magical ability of county government to expand itself under her watch. It seems the 'transformation' was primarily directed at the size and scope of the county's own payroll, not necessarily the efficiency or affordability for the rest of us. But hey, at least the outgoing chief got a nice round of applause.