A hiring freeze is needed for Riverside County government, with a few exceptions, in the coming fiscal year to keep a lid on spending in the face of an anticipated budget gap totaling almost $100 million, the county’s chief executive officer told the Board of Supervisors Monday.
“We’re recommending a hiring freeze for all departments that receive discretionary fund revenue,” CEO Jeff Van Wagenen said Monday at the outset of hearings on the proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget.
He then qualified the statement by noting a few agencies, most notably the Department of Public Social Services and Department of Animal Services, should be exempt from the freeze due to pressing needs…