Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Department outlines proposed FY2009 cuts, possible layoffs if salary targets enforced
Summary
Staff told the Commission the department faces mandated general‑fund cuts and an additional 8% salary reduction target from the mayor's office; proposed responses include contract cuts (Japantown EIR), elimination of certain enhancements, temporary reductions to EIR funding for recreation/open space, and a revenue position focused on fee collection; staff said targeted layoffs (approx. 4 FTE) could be required if salary cut targets are enforced.
Planning Department staff presented a mid‑budget update outlining how the department would respond to mayoral direction to reduce general‑fund support and achieve salary savings. Staff said the department had already trimmed enhancements, proposed pulling some non‑salary items (Japantown EIR partial funding and open‑space EIR elimination), reduced outreach and training budgets and proposed one revenue‑generating position to improve fee collection.
Alicia Jean Baptiste summarized options to meet roughly $1.35 million in further reductions including contract reductions and one proposed revenue position estimated to generate net fee revenue. Staff emphasized they had negotiated some flexibility with the mayor's office and hoped to avoid layoffs but warned that meeting the full salary reduction requirement by using personnel cuts would require roughly four full‑time equivalent layoffs. Planning staff said legal mandates (e.g., housing element EIR) remain fully funded while other discretionary programs would be reduced.
Commissioners asked about worst‑case layoff numbers, EIR impacts (Japantown funding reduced, housing element EIR retained) and possibilities for process improvements to reduce repeated document production costs; staff said process improvements are underway and more detail will come in June.
