Proposed budget update would increase county staff

The Board of Clark County Councilors will consider a request from the Community Development department to add new staff members as part of a 2015-2016 budget proposal headed for a public hearing.

The proposal includes the hiring of two building safety inspectors and a customer support specialist to help keep up with the region’s red hot construction industry.

According to the county, it has conducted about 18,000 building safety inspections this year, up from 13,000 in the same months last year.

“We are moving to restore capacity lost during the recession while making continuous improvements to help businesses and homeowners finalize plans, submit applications, secure permits and complete construction,” said Marty Snell, director of Community Development, in a press release.

According to Clark County Budget Manager Adriana Prata, the county finance team is recommending a net increase of $844,750 in general fund spending using existing sources of revenue while maintaining adequate reserves.

Proposed changes also call for an additional deputy prosecuting attorney to relieve pressure from a 29 percent increase in cases filed over the past five years. Other recommendations include a plan to refinance $7.7 million in bonds.

The board will consider the request during a public hearing at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12 at the Public Service Center, sixth-floor hearing room (1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver).

For more details on the budget proposal, visit www.clark.wa.gov/thegrid/documents/2_Budget.pdf.

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