Santa Barbara, CA-- It's a word too many people have become familiar with these days: furlough.

During these tough economic times, governments and private employers have had to use furloughs to reduce budgets and costs. These are unpaid days off. "You are told to go home and you're not paid for that time," says Kristi Schmidt, Santa Barbara City Employee Relations Manager. Schmidt has worked out furlough agreements with city workers and their union representatives.

SEIU Local 620 representative George Green says, "as the departments were preparing budgets it was real because they were submitting layoffs to the City Administrator. That made it real for us."

Santa Barbara County Supervisors Joni Gray said, "Layoffs are bad. It takes people out of the economy. They can't live. They can't spend."

The courts are also closing one week day a month, slowing the wheels of justice.

Joe Armendariz with the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers
Association says, government unemployment is only three percent.
" Compare that to 12.2 percent in California. 19 percent in construction. 14 percent in manufacturing. So government unemployment is still very low."

The union says, " We're around to provide services for the citizens and the only way to provide services is to have employees to provide them."

On KEY News at 6 and 11, Senior Reporter John Palminteri looks at the local impact these furloughs are having. Part one airs tonight (10/30). Part two tomorrow night (10/31)

Tune into for the KEY News Special Assignment to find out if these furloughs are helping or hurting.