Seattle Department Of Planning And Development Holds Layoffs, Increases Furloughs

The Seattle Department of Planning and Development, like government agencies all over the country, is facing rough times. The department has announced that they will likely layoff somewhere around the number of 40 employees in October. The department is citing a decline in permit revenue as the reason for the layoffs.

In addition to the near mass layoff numbers, the DPD is also requesting that the union protecting the state workers more than double the amount of furlough days in 20100.

The DPD has several unfilled positions and over the past two years, has had many rounds of layoffs. At the end of 2008, the DPD had 437 employees. Now, in 2010, they have 345 filled positions.

In addition to layoffs, the agency has cut overtime, stopped hiring consultants, and lowered training and supply costs.