DCD director warns of biennial shortfall; permit technician cut may slow permitting

San Juan County Department of Community Development Director Seth Jones told the Planning Commission Dec. 19 that the county faces an estimated $7–8 million deficit in its biennial budget and that departments were asked to identify reductions and efficiencies to balance 2026 spending.

Seth said the board initially requested departments cut about 10% from budgets and then asked departments to consider staffing changes. "That almost got us there, but not quite," he said, and confirmed DCD lost one permit technician position. "Nobody is pretending like it's not gonna result in a a bit of a delay" to permitting work, he warned.

Seth described other 2026 reductions, including cuts to consultant and contract-service funds that could require phasing or reprioritizing code-amendment work. He said the county did approve filling an existing vacant code enforcement position but directed hiring be delayed until around the second quarter to save first-quarter funds.

On revenue-side options, Seth said DCD will evaluate fees and begin research on a potential adjustment; "We put in a placeholder of around 15% to start off with," he said, noting fees have not been reviewed in about a decade. He also said DCD will look for grant and partnership opportunities and suggested the county lacks a centralized grants capacity.

Commissioner Bill Baggins asked whether DCD tracks code-enforcement metrics; Seth said the department does monitor complaints, categories and resolution times and noted "95% of the activity that we do is based on citizen complaints." He said staff previously provided trend reports to the county council and will continue to track changes as staffing levels shift.

Seth said staff will refine plans in the coming weeks and hopes to present more detailed options early in the new year.