 |
 |
 |
 |
Placer County layoff notices go out to building department employees
Workers get pink slips Monday, 200 other county posts left vacant
Placer County is laying off eight building department employees because of declining housing construction and decreased workloads for inspectors.
“We understand that this is very difficult for our employees and their families,” County Executive Officer Tom Miller said. “Coming to this decision was also very difficult, and we regret that it was necessary.”
The number of new-home building permits were issued has fallen from 974 in 2004-05 to 359 in 2007-08. Building department officials were notified Monday that eight people will be laid off and others will be asked to consider filling a different job with a lower salary.
The building department reviewed its organizational structure to match the number of staff providing service with the workload demand, Miller said. Six positions have already been left unfilled after departures since last November. The building department started last fiscal year with 50 employees.
No further layoffs are anticipated for the building department during the remainder of the fiscal year, Miller said.
The layoffs were the first for the county during the current economic downturn and follow similar steps this past year by the city of Auburn and El Dorado County.
“We’ve taken a number of steps over the last 18 months to protect services and avoid the need for staff reductions,” Miller added.
More than 200 positions are being kept vacant, with posts left open as staff has retired or left. The county employs about 2,700 workers. Miller said the percentage of jobs left unfilled ranged from 15 percent in the assessor’s office to from 5 percent to 2 percent for criminal justice departments. Public safety remains a high priority, he said.
Placer County approved a balanced, interim budget in June, which was based on earlier information from the state contained in the governor’s budget. But legislators have yet to craft a final spending plan and Miller said that number will play a major role in determining the amount of money supervisors will allocate from county funds to pay for state mandated health and human services programs.
“Demand for services goes up in a down economy,” Miller said.
Supervisors adopted a resolution June 24 giving Miller permission to direct layoffs to protect the budget from going into a deficit position. Miller said one of the county’s priorities is to not dip into its reserve funding at this time.
During August workshops, the Board of Supervisors will again review its budget. It will consider how best to balance the county workload to ensure that critical basic services are available, including assistance to families through the health and human services department.
“Today’s actions are a reflection of the current state of the economy in California as well as Placer County,” said John Marin, county Community Development Resource Agency director. The agency includes the building department. “We are continuing to track permit applications and the
number has continued to decline dramatically. The decision to reduce staff has been extremely difficult for all of us.”
The process to achieve a reduction in the workforce will be done in compliance with labor agreements, Personnel Director Nancy Nittler said.
Employees who are laid off will be placed on a “reemployment” list. Some employees with seniority may be eligible to “bump” others with less seniority. In addition, the Board of Supervisors has authorized an extra 10 days of pay in the form of leave, extending employment for the laid off workers through Aug. 11, and will continue health, dental and vision care benefits through Sept. 30 at no cost to employees.
The Journal’s Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com.
layoffs, placer, county, eight, building, department, tom miller, nancy nittler, gus thomson
Not registered? Click here
|
Share this
|
Unfortunately, a necessary evil in a declining economy. The fact that Placer County is able to limit current layoffs to only 8 employees is a testament to the County's commitment to their employees in general. While I do feel empathy for these specific 8 employees and their families, layoffs are the bottom-line reality in economic times such as currently exist in Placer County, California, and across the Nation as a whole. Check Starbucks, General Motors, or any other U.S. Company mired in the midst of the current economic downturn to see what and how they are balancing their budgets.
The gesture by Placer County to extend wages until August 11th and health benefits through September is far more than most employers would have done.
extended benefits for six months is the norm if not the law.
Not in my business, it' not.
Ah.. they can all get GREAT paying jobs at Costco and live the American Dream! *sarcasm*
In reducing staff it's too bad County Administration refused to offer golden handshakes to allow some employees to opt for retirement early, unlike other local jurisdictions with similar financial situations. (Administration also refused to extend the re-hire list beyond the normal 1 year- which would have been a simple gesture for morale, if nothing else.) And unfortunately this isn't a simple 'last hired- first fired' layoff scenario; there will be hardship for the many inspectors also forced to demote.
So yes, since the downturn County Building no longer contracts out to the private sector for services, inspectors can actually take their lunch & other breaks, positions haven't been filled, and now there are layoffs. Many other departments also have reduced work, but are so far not being asked to lay off staff to make up for the Health & Human Services budget deficit.
The way I see it Placer County is stuck with a near future of reduced services to the public; they are just starting layoffs, a large percentage of the workforce will continue to be eligible to retire in the next few years, there are limited/no funds to train new staff, and experienced workers won’t apply for work here. Many employees have already retired, left to other agencies, or gone to the private sector due to a perceived lack of service to the general public on the part of management, and other morale issues.
The County doesn't have to make this situation any worse or to dip into their substantial money or other reserves; a little more common sense, compassion, and fairness applied to current and future layoffs would be in the best interests of all, for employees and the public alike.
[By the way- this article mentions the unfilled positions in the County; what it doesn’t relate is that their open position recruitments are often unsuccessful- sometimes for years. Increasingly, qualified workers will not apply to Placer County or accept jobs here due to the lower pay and high cost of living; so the large monetary and public service costs for hiring entry level employees appear to be in the County’s future as well.]
CEO Tom Miller doesn't give a hoot about his employees, trust me, he's just fine making his nearly $300,000 (yes, you read correctly!!) a year salary so Mr. Miller isn't the least bit affected by our economic mess!! But for employees making $10 - $12 an hour, (ues, you read correctly) being laid off will be devastating for them and their families!!
Someone pointed out Placer County's ridiculous 2 weeks salary offering to those laid off is nothing different than being fired, something Mr. Miller takes great enjoyment in doing!
Do more research before you come in here blasting people's character, Fasteddy. Tom Miller most certainly does NOT have a $300K salary...not even close! The highest salary in the County belongs to the Chief Assistant CEO who, with his latest raise to $106 per hour, makes $220K per year!
I'm NOT saying these individuals, among many others, aren't dramatically overpaid...only correcting your blatantly false statement about the CEO's salary.
And by the way....there are very few, and I mean VERY few Placer County employees who make between $10-$12 an hour.
Lastly, for you to insinuate...oh wait, you didn't insinuate, you came right out and accused Tom Miller of "taking great enjoyment" in having to lay off employees.....wow, pretty ballsy of you to cast such disaparaging remarks at a man you've obviously never even met. I'm confident in saying you've never met him, because if you had...not in a million years would you believe what you just wrote about him.
So Mr. Miller.....I'm sorry, I meant "Irritated" ~ tell us what you really make a year then if your assistant makes a paltry $220k a year....by-the-way, all County salaries are public knowledge so I believe the Auburn Journal readers can look and judge for themselves what is false and isn't.
County salaries are in fact public knowledge...feel free to look them up. The Chief Assistant CEO actually makes MORE than the CEO...chalk it up to good negotiating skills I guess, but the Chief Assistant CEO position was/is a newly classified position, non-existent prior to the incumbent filling the position.
Please don't misunderstand me....there are a number of folks in the County being grossly overpaid...from the Chief Assistant CEO down...throw in the Sheriff, Undersheriff, most non-elected department heads and a few others as well.
My main issue with your post Fasteddy is your outright attack of Tom Miller as a person and his service as this County's Executive Officer. I'm here to tell you....the man works his A$$ off for this County...50, 60, 70 hours a week, nights, weekends, holidays, constant travel, meetings, appearances on the County's behalf, and so forth. Yeah, I work with the guy (FOR him actually), and without question I will tell you these layoffs were absolutely NOT an easy decision for him, but a necessary evil and a decision he labored long and hard over.
In the entire time I have known him, Tom Miller has proven to be a man of integrity and true character. He has been devoted to this County for a number of years, and for you to attack him as though he is some rouge "don't give a crap" politician is blatantly wrong...and quite honestly, in my opinion, you owe him a public apology!
County salaries are in fact public knowledge...feel free to look them up. The Chief Assistant CEO actually makes MORE than the CEO...chalk it up to good negotiating skills I guess, but the Chief Assistant CEO position was/is a newly classified position, non-existent prior to the incumbent filling the position.
Please don't misunderstand me....there are a number of folks in the County being grossly overpaid...from the Chief Assistant CEO down...throw in the Sheriff, Undersheriff, most non-elected department heads and a few others as well.
My main issue with your post Fasteddy is your outright attack of Tom Miller as a person and his service as this County's Executive Officer. I'm here to tell you....the man works his A$$ off for this County...50, 60, 70 hours a week, nights, weekends, holidays, constant travel, meetings, appearances on the County's behalf, and so forth. Yeah, I work with the guy (FOR him actually), and without question I will tell you these layoffs were absolutely NOT an easy decision for him, but a necessary evil and a decision he labored long and hard over.
In the entire time I have known him, Tom Miller has proven to be a man of integrity and true character. He has been devoted to this County for a number of years, and for you to attack him as though he is some rouge "don't give a crap" politician is blatantly wrong...and quite honestly, in my opinion, you owe him a public apology!
sorry for the double post...not sure why that happened...
The Board of Supervisors has just voted to request the voters of Placer County to approve a pay increase for themselves to the tune of $18,000. per year, the county has another top management job, which I think is newly created, for a "Director of Administrative Services, Health and Human" to the tune of $100-122,607 per year. Additionally employees that have retired are hired back as temporary extra help not to mention all the temp agency help....what is happening here???? I am irrirated by this! Why ask for a raise, hire a top position, bring back the retired and hire temp agency workers while laying off its own employees and all this during a hiring freeze? I understand benefits are not paid to the retired and the temp people and they can only work a 1,000 + hours per fiscal year. Why can't we move these employees into other positions that are unfilled on a temporary basis? I don't care if they temporarily become file clerks, street sweepers or whatever but offer them jobs and get rid of the extras, To the sups: have the decency to not ask for a pay increase for yourselves! To Mr. Miller: get rid of the extra help, cut there before you get rid of your own!
Having been in construction since I was old enough to walk, and being laid off dozens of times I don't feel the least bit sorry for these people. Welcome to reality.
auburnnative-How compassionate of you. Maybe you should have gone to college and avoided the layoffs. Instead, you chose to be in construction knowing that it pays well but is seasonal. These people chose employment in a lower paying position but the possibility of more job security. Not their fault the bottom fell out of the building industry.
The county should look at layoffs and cost cutting across the board. Managers and supervisors should be looked at closely too. The county has been top heavy for years in that respect. Assistant this and assisstant that. It is unfortunate but what type of message are they sending when managers and supervisors are overseeing less staff. And yes than you have 2 virtually new members of the board of supvs, along with the other 3, looking for a 60% raise. Tom Miller isn't the only county employee that works overtime either. As far as people being laid off who do you think picks up the slack?Construction is a different animal Mr. Hardhat because usually everyone is off at the same time and there is no service to provide, but if you need anything the county will be there for you.
I totally agree with you Salamander! People take these lower paying jobs to make sure they will have a job all year long without getting laid off. Auburnnative you shouldn't even compare yourself to these people because their jobs and your construction job are totally different.