Pulaski County commissioners debate merging CDC work into building department amid budget push

Pulaski County commissioners spent much of their meeting reviewing a countywide budget restructuring that would fold some Community Development Corporation (CDC) functions into building and development operations and change staff classifications.

The discussion centered on a proposal that would reduce the number of full‑time positions overall by reorganizing duties across departments while leaving existing named positions in place. Carla, director of the county's CDC, told commissioners that her office has been working short‑handed for years and that the proposed restructuring would keep the county at four full‑time staff in affected areas but shift duties among those positions. "I'm not entirely convinced that not having five full‑time positions is ideal," Carla said, but added she was instructed to prepare options that would save money.

County staff described two restructuring options: in one, the county would have a full‑time building inspector and retain a part‑time office administrator; in the other, staffing would keep a full‑time inspector and still keep the director's position, but redistribute clerical and technical roles. Finance staff presented high‑level figures indicating modest savings on paper — roughly a $22,000 reduction in one line item against some…