Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, October 31, 2008

20 county workers' jobs spared

The Public Works Department has enough work to replace its consultants with planners facing layoffs

By Krista J. Kapralos
Herald Writer

 EVERETT -- An expansion to a program that swaps Snoho­mish County government workers among departments will save about 20 people from layoffs.

Officials at the county's Planning and Development Services department, walloped by a feeble housing and construction market, announced this month a plan to lay off about 75 employees by the end of the year. The department is funded through construction fees and other revenue. Local building activity has dwindled to half of what it's been in recent years.

Planning director Craig Ladiser would have been forced to lay off about 25 workers in May, when the budget crisis began, but together with public works director Steve Thomsen, he hatched a plan to loan his employees to fill open positions in Thomsen's office.

This week, Thomsen announced that he can use about 20 more planners to do work normally done by consultants.

"This doesn't cost us anything," Thomsen said. "In addition to the work we do with in-house staff, we use a fair amount of consultants on the outside. So we'll just hire less consultants and do more work with inside staff."

Thomsen's department handles garbage services, road maintenance and other infrastructure. With 670 employees, Public Works is the county's largest department. The department is funded through garbage fees and other revenue.

Many of the engineers, planners and other employees who work for Ladiser are qualified to design road and bridge renovations and other tasks for Thomsen.

Ladiser and Thomsen haven't identified which employees will be loaned to Thomsen's department. With 20 workers sent to another department and 55 people laid off, Ladiser's department next year will be just half the size it is now.

County Council Chairman Dave Somers said he and other councilmen support the plan.

"The more we can keep our talent here at the county, the better," he said.

Most county government departments have been asked to trim their budgets by 9 percent to balance the 2009 budget, which is expected to face a shortfall of $21 million or more. Somers said the county's financial analysts believe the local economy could rebound next year. If that happens, the workers Ladiser loaned to Thomsen could return to the planning department. But an economic resurgence won't immediately help departments that rely on the county's general fund, which is only revised once a year.

As many as 200 county workers, are expected to lose their jobs by January, not counting the layoffs in the planning department. Somers and other county leaders are scrambling to find ways to save money and jobs before Nov. 24, the deadline to approve the 2009 budget.

Somers said the council has asked unions representing county workers to consider instituting a 10-day unpaid leave for each worker. The days would be used by each worker as requested throughout the year. That change could save the county between $3 million and $6 million, Somers said.

"That money could be used to retain staff," Somers said.

The council has received more than 200 suggestions of ways to save money from county workers. A common suggestion is to allow employees to volunteer to work shorter weeks, or to take unpaid time off, Somers said.



Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA