By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
Due to a continued downturn in new construction activity San Juan County’s Community Development and Planning Department (CD&P) will be reducing two additional staff positions. The employees affected are a Senior Planner and a Department Assistant.
Previous staff positions eliminated included a Building Inspector and two Permit Coordinators. April revenues for the department were down from March and little improvement is expected in the coming months.
Because of the reduced volume of construction and permitting, CD&P Director Ron Henrickson does not expect permit review and processing times to increase. “Adjusting to a changing economy is difficult for both the private and public sectors,” Henrickson said, “We are making every effort to maintain our present level of service.”
Henrickson noted that approximately 76% of the CD&P budget is funded by fee revenue and as that revenue declines corresponding staff reductions have to follow.
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