PORT TOWNSEND — With building permit revenues running about $250,000 short of projections during the harsh recession of 2009, three more Jefferson County Department of Community Development employees have been laid off, effective Aug. 1.
An upset Al Scalf, Department of Community Development director, confirmed the layoffs Friday, saying it reduces his department to 11 employees, down from 25 staffers in 2008.
“So we’re going to have to prioritize and provide the service we can provide,” said Scalf, acting county administrator through Wednesday while Administrator Philip Morley is on vacation.
The latest round of layoffs, notifications of which were made Wednesday, Scalf said, eliminated a permit technician, an assistant planner and a planning clerk.
Second wave
It is the second wave of layoffs in the revenue-challenged department since late last year when six Community Development staffers were handed their notices.
Five other positions went unfilled after they were vacated last year.
During budget cuts last year, Community Development hours were cut to four days a week, ending Friday public business hours and amounting to 10 percent pay cuts to staff, including Scalf.
With the latest revenue losses, Scalf said it would be a period of re-examination for his department, which issues county building permits, conducts building inspections and manages land-use matters.
“We will try to look at things and decide how we can continue with a high standard of service,” Scalf said.
“All areas of community development will be affected, obviously, from permit review to customer service to legal backup and just our involvement in projects overall.”
Commissioners advised
In an e-mail last Monday night to county Commissioner Chairman David Sullivan, D-Cape George, Morley explained how the layoffs decision came about, stating that he proposes to backfill $125,000 from the county’s general fund this year and next.
“DCD [Department of Community Development], which is already cut expenses $140,000 below their budget, is able to cut another $50,000, leaving $75,000 to find from staff reductions,” Morley states, adding that Lorna Delaney, Board of County Commissioners clerk, was working with Scalf and a union representative “to make sure we’re working correctly with union.”
“This additional cut is painful, and is necessary in the face of lagging permit revenues,” Morley states.
Contacted Friday, Sullivan said the revenue story was still the same with sluggish construction in Jefferson County and throughout the recession-racked nation.
“It just hasn’t turned around yet,” Sullivan said, although sales taxes were beginning to show minute signs of recovery.
Sullivan said he expected he and his fellow Democratic commissioners, Phil Johnson of Port Townsend John Austin of Port Ludlow, would discuss the latest Department of Community Development layoffs during their Monday morning and afternoon meetings.
Planning work
Sullivan and Scalf cited critical planning work that must continue under a much thinner DCD staff.
Work still must focus on the shoreline master program, the yearly comprehensive plan amendments, which includes the airport essential public facilities zoning proposal for the Port of Port Townsend’s proposed “eco” industrial and business park, an small site for environmentally focused businesses and the creation of green jobs at the port’s Jefferson County International Airport.
Sullivan said no layoffs were being considers in other county department, with law enforcement and public health being the least touchable.
Decline in homes
Scalf said the biggest impact on his department was being felt through the dramatic decline in single-family home building.
The way Scalf figures it, for a $1.9 million annual budget he needed $160,000 a month in revenues.
With $656,000 budgeted this year for building revenue, Scalf said the reality during this year’s first six months is that only $192,000 in revenue was received.
“We’re down 50 percent,” Scalf said.
“We’re projecting we will be “250,000 to $300,000 down in building revenues by the end of the year.”
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
