PORT TOWNSEND – Three positions were cut in the city Development Services and Building departments to help balance the city’s $26.4 million 2008 budget before the City Council gave final approval to it earlier this week.
“I had to lay off three people,” City Manager David Timmons told the council on Monday night, adding that those departments were chosen because “that is the area where we currently are at the lowest as far as activity goes.”
The layoffs will save the city $160,000, but they also will reduce service levels, Timmons said last week.
Timmons declined Tuesday to name the positions to be cut, saying that was being negotiated with the union.
“Our general fund revenues are stagnant and we have to address that,” he said.
“Utility funds and enterprise funds are doing fine.”
The council also approved $34,000 in other city department cuts across the board.
