Prince William County government is planning to cut more than 30 positions in an attempt to shore up its budget this year.
A total of 36 positions in the departments of development services, planning, public works, and transportation are facing the chopping block. Of those jobs, 19 are vacant, while 17 are filled.
The Building Development Division of Development Services is proposing to cut 11 positions, from 85.18 full-time equivalents to 74.18, which would reduce expenditures in fiscal 2009, which started July 1, by about $400,000. The division, which issues permits and conducts construction plan review, inspections and building code enforcement, is projecting a $2.7 million shortfall for the year as construction falters during the recession.
Land development departments would shed 25 positions under the proposal — eight of which are filled — which would reduce spending by $1.3 million.
“We’re at a point where in order to bring our expenditures in line with our revenues, we need to do this,” said Assistant County Executive Susan Roltsch. “These are not happy times for us.”
The idea to cut positions originated at the County Board of Supervisors’ financial retreat in October, when the board heard various proposals from County Executive Craig Gerhart on ways to deal with a dismal budget in the coming years.
If the Board of Supervisors approves the proposals Tuesday, the cuts will be effective Feb. 1 to give employees time to plan, Roltsch said.
Roltsch stressed that because of the county’s layoff policy, employees whose positions are eliminated will not necessarily be out of work. According to county policy, workers whose positions are eliminated could bump others from their jobs depending on tenure and other factors, she said.
She added that if employees are bumped from their positions, the county will try to move them into vacant positions; however, many empty posts are being eliminated or frozen.
Land development departments — which include development, planning, public works and transportation — already have reduced full-time jobs from 117.85 in fiscal 2007 to 91.5 in fiscal 2009 due to declining development in the county.
