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Development department faces $1.1M shortfall; blight abatement contracts cut
Summary
Rachel Lambert told the council the Department of Development plans about a $1.1 million reduction in its 2026 allotment, eliminating 31 positions and pausing contracted blight abatement programs previously funded at about $2.2 million. Staff warned review times could lengthen and proposed fee increases and grant pursuit to mitigate shortfalls.
Rachel Lambert, representing the Department of Development, told the council the department will see about a $1,100,000 reduction in its 2026 allotment and proposed operational changes to close the gap. The cuts include eliminating a second subdivision engineer (leaving one chief development engineer) and reducing staffing in permits and inspections and subdivision engineering, with 31 position allotments proposed for elimination.
Lambert said the department expects longer review times as a result. She noted that plan review turnaround is currently less than three days and that the department will try to maintain guaranteed service levels — seven days for residential plan review and 24 days for commercial — even after staffing reductions. She said the South Central Planning contract performs much of the plan review work and that a smaller number of internal reviewers will be supplemented by that contract.
Neighborhood revitalization (blight abatement) will…
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