Mariposa County’s unemployment rate surged to a number not seen since the months following the 100-Year Flood in 1997. According to the Employment Development Department data released last week, 14.6 percent of Mariposa County workers were without jobs in January.

The last time the unemployment rate was higher was in January, February and March of 1997, the months that saw complete closure of Yosemite National Park after the Merced River wreaked havoc on facilities and roads. In January of that year, the local unemployment rate was 21.8 percent. It fell to 20 then 16 percent in subsequent months as flood repairs continued.

California is facing its own economic flood now, and it seems to be having similar, though not as drastic effects on the local economy. While Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue remains steady, far more people are without jobs.

Last year, the unemployment rate for the same time period was 12.9 percent. In 2008, it was 8.6 percent. In the 2006, it was just 5.6 percent.

Maybe more concerning is the drastic increase from December, 2009 to January, 2010. The unemployment rate climbed by two percent in one month. January is typically one of the slowest months for tourism and the highest for unemployment.

The EDD says the winter doldrum is typical. “The trend has been that the unemployment rate goes up during the winter months and starts to decrease again in March or April,” said Nanette Potter, a labor market analyst with the EDD.

DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite Inc. expects hiring to be about the same as last year. Public Relations Manager Kenny Karst said the company currently has 2,155 active, on-line applications and about 150 active paper applications on file. DNC expects to hire about 1,100 people for the summer season, roughly half of the number who have applied.

The state budget crisis will likely lead to more problems locally. The Mariposa County Unified School District Board of Trustees took action earlier this month to notify 15 teachers that they may not have jobs next year. District officials hope to be able to reduce that number before the school year begins, but they are required to provide notification by March 15.

Acting Superintendent Aaron Rosander said at the March 4 meeting that the district had lost another 96 students in the past year, a trend that has continued for years.

“It’s amazing,” Rosander said, noting that when he first came to the district in 1994, there were 2,700 students. Now there are 2,100.

“It’s a double-whammy,” Rosander continued, noting that the state’s massive cuts are exacerbated by the district’s declining enrollment. Still, he hopes the district will find itself in a position to reinstate many of the positions.

District 3 board member Judy Eppler expressed the board’s collective sentiment. “This is really, really, really difficult,” she said. “No one wants to layoff anybody. This is hell for us.”

Mariposa County employees have been fortunate enough to find themselves in a very different position than other civil servants. All over California, counties and cities are laying off and furloughing workers.

At a recent board of supervisors meeting, County Administrative Officer Rick Benson commented on the subject. “Numerous counties have to come to the board and tell them they’re off track,” and must institute layoffs and furloughs, Benson said. “I’m very glad I don’t need to do that.”

Benson said the budget is performing well in terms of expenditures, as all departments are operating within their means. “We’re running right on track,” he said.

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