AUBURN – Citing a stagnant housing market, Placer County announced Monday that it will lay off eight employees in its Building Department.
In addition, other employees within the department will be asked to consider filling different jobs having lower salaries.
County Executive Officer Thomas Miller said the layoffs were necessitated by a declining housing market in Placer, which led to a decreased workload for county building inspectors.
"We understand that this is very difficult for our employees and their families," Miller said in a news release. "Coming to this decision was also very difficult, and we regret that it was necessary."
The number of new homes for which building permits were issued has fallen by more than 60 percent since fiscal 2004-05.
Permits numbered 974 in 2004-05, compared with just 359 in 2007-08, the release says.
The layoffs are a drastic step in Placer County, which traditionally has avoided handing out pink slips to its employees.
In recent years, Placer has kept more than 200 positions vacant after staff members left or retired.
– Art Campos
