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Published in: September 2009
Category: In the September/October editorial, I wrote that the Dallas Morning News had reported that the city of Dallas would not cut code enforcement departments in balancing the budget. It was my impression from that article that “building inspectors—electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and building—and fire inspectors were specifically singled out as those that would NOT be cut.” Unfortunately, this information was incorrect.
After reading the editorial, Carl Thompson, with the city of Dallas, sent the following information.
- Uniformed personnel (police and fire) received no cuts
- Code Enforcement received no cuts. In the city of Dallas, this department does not include construction codes (building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical) but rather focuses on local housing codes (i.e., high weeds, junk motor vehicles, substandard structures, certificates of occupancy, etc.)
- The Department of Building Inspections (which includes building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and sign inspectors) has been greatly cut, with several receiving termination notices. These cuts equate to approximately 36% reduction of the building inspection staff.
It seems that Dallas has not gotten the Blue Sky message after all. We shall have to increase our efforts to provide jurisdictions with more information about the importance of trained inspectors.
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(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
#1 by Howard Grindstaff at September 16th, 2009
My department also had major cuts to balance the budget, I think we lost around 25 % of our inspection force and it looks like we might have to go through this again for the upcoming year
#2 by DVP at September 16th, 2009
Many other Cities, like ours in Florida has had over 50% cut in the last 6-months. Including cutting more than 20% pay for all other staff left. That is not to mention the additional percentage cut for benefit accruals.
Sign of the times. But we will all keep chugging along with whatever comes our way.