Maintaining control system viability amidst declining budgets, resources, and sanity (how I learned to stop worrying and love saying no)

The controls systems group at Jefferson Lab has gradually diminished in size over 20 years as the scope of their responsibilities has continued to increase. Following a recent RIF, the group contains only 7 software developers responsible for maintaining hundreds of applications and EPICS IOCs, as well as tackling numerous pressing challenges. The size of the group is currently inadequate for the task. I examine how this situation arose, potential effects, and plans to remedy.