The Prince William Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate 36 county positions Tuesday, including 17 that are currently filled.
The vote was 8-0, with Supervisor Martin Nohe, R-Coles, absent. Of the other positions, 19 are vacant.
The Building Development Division of the Department of Development Services is projecting a $2.7 million shortfall in fiscal 2009, as the construction industry has slowed in the county. Nine filled positions and two vacant positions in the department will be eliminated, saving the county about $400,000.
Land development departments — Development Services, Planning, Public Works and Transportation — will lose eight filled and 17 vacant positions, reducing fiscal 2009 costs by about $1.3 million.
Assistant County Executive Susan Roltsch said the government analyzed its staffing levels and then focused on cutting positions where the workload has decreased.
“It’s painful, but I know you say the workload isn’t there,” said Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries.
Employees have been told whether they are being laid off, Roltsch said. The county has been flexible in allowing them to make calls and pursue other work while still employed by the county, she added.
County Executive Craig Gerhart and Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large, praised the work of the departments and stressed that declining development in the county forced the cuts.
“We really value all of their efforts to improve the community development process,” Stewart said. “We’re making these cuts because we have to, but we believe that they’ve been doing a phenomenal job.”
The cuts will take effect Feb. 1.
