California’s Sonoma County Faces Second Round Of Mass Layoffs

California’s Sonoma County is facing potential layoffs that could affect hundreds of county employees. County officials are citing an increase in retirement benefits as a primary factor for an increasing budget deficit that has grown beyond what analysts had predicted.

The County Administrator, Veronica Ferguson, told supervisors that the deficit, which was once expected to reach $17 million, is likely to hit a staggering $27 million by June of 2011.

Earlier this year, the County cut 230 positions, which amounted to around 61 workers being laid off. Another round of layoffs could amount to around 300 jobs being cut during the next fiscal year.