Trying to cobble together a new position - Cyburbia Forums

orangina · 2009-08-21, 03:41 PM

Our planning department is relatively small (17 persons inc. fire marshall, inspections, planning, community development, permitting, and zoning.) We are looking to get one more person in the office who can work on a variety of small programs that we are building.

An opportunity arose to partner with the state in getting a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control person -- under this arrangement the state would pay 60% of the salary and we would pay 40%. Given the current economy we are under budget constraints so I am looking for any other sources of money that might be used to fund the other 40%.

Anyone know of creative ways to fund this position without enacting new fees or dipping into the budget?

One idea we had was to assign this person building rehab tasks and maybe there would be some housing grants that could contribute to the position's salary. I really don't know and am in search of some creative thinking on this one. Thank you!

stroskey · 2009-08-21, 05:42 PM

You didn't mention anything about Housing in your list of workers. If this position worked on some Housing items, like Section 8 or CDBG rehab you could use those admin funds to offset some costs. Good thinking with the grant-writing position; the more grants they secure the more your department has to spend (both admin and project costs).

Tide · 2009-08-21, 06:29 PM

Can you partner with your state universities? Possibly their extension services to pick up some of that tab? We were looking into a partnership with Clemson for a 2 year partly paid arborist/planner position (Clemson extension would provide the money for the arborist)

orangina · 2009-08-26, 04:19 PM

We have a firm under contract to do our rehab housing -- that may change in 2-3 years but until then we are under contract to do work through them. So, I would LIKE to match this with housing but my hands are a little tied.

The arborist idea is intriguing -- is there a program name that I can pursue further on my own?

kms · 2009-08-26, 10:39 PM

How about a stormwater person, maybe an education specialist, or a watershed specialist?

Here in PA, conservation districts administer the state's E&S program. The funding is shared by the state and counties (some counties contribute more than others). Some other CD employees would be ag related, like nutrient management, or the positions above. There are also Chesapeake Bay techs in that watershed. Go to the PACD web page if you want to find more info. Districts are pretty creative when it comes to funding strategies.

Rygor · 2009-08-27, 10:24 AM

Do you have any Tax Increment Finance Districts in your community? If so, the new person could serve as a brownfield mitigation specialist for parcels in the TIF (especially if you have any industrial in your TIF) and possibly do some redevelopment work, as well. Most states will let you use TIF money to fund positions related to TIF administration.

NHPlanner · 2009-08-27, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by orangina

Our planning department is relatively small (17 persons inc. fire marshall, inspections, planning, community development, permitting, and zoning.)

Off-topic:

I admit to chuckling when I read this....this would be considered a BIG department around here.

joshking2 · 2009-11-03, 03:19 PM

Talk to your COG. Alot of times they could use someone P/T and the county could use someone P/T and do a cost share agreement.

Brocktoon · 2009-11-06, 07:10 PM

Can you job share with the county or another city? Another thought is can one of your existing staff members do the job or learn it?

2009-08-21, 03:41 PM	#1
orangina Member Registered: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18	Trying to cobble together a new position Our planning department is relatively small (17 persons inc. fire marshall, inspections, planning, community development, permitting, and zoning.) We are looking to get one more person in the office who can work on a variety of small programs that we are building. An opportunity arose to partner with the state in getting a Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control person -- under this arrangement the state would pay 60% of the salary and we would pay 40%. Given the current economy we are under budget constraints so I am looking for any other sources of money that might be used to fund the other 40%. Anyone know of creative ways to fund this position without enacting new fees or dipping into the budget? One idea we had was to assign this person building rehab tasks and maybe there would be some housing grants that could contribute to the position's salary. I really don't know and am in search of some creative thinking on this one. Thank you!

2009-08-21, 06:29 PM	#3
Tide Cyburbian Registered: Oct 2005 Location: The Lowcountry Posts: 1,154	Can you partner with your state universities? Possibly their extension services to pick up some of that tab? We were looking into a partnership with Clemson for a 2 year partly paid arborist/planner position (Clemson extension would provide the money for the arborist) __________________ www.pioneerplanning.com - A blog about planning innovations

2009-08-27, 10:24 AM	#6
Rygor Cyburbian Registered: Jun 2009 Location: Where the Wild Things Are Posts: 325	Do you have any Tax Increment Finance Districts in your community? If so, the new person could serve as a brownfield mitigation specialist for parcels in the TIF (especially if you have any industrial in your TIF) and possibly do some redevelopment work, as well. Most states will let you use TIF money to fund positions related to TIF administration. __________________ "When life gives you lemons, just say 'No thanks'." - Henry Rollins

2009-11-06, 07:10 PM	#9
Brocktoon Cyburbian Registered: Apr 2006 Location: I'm on Boat! Posts: 1,697	Can you job share with the county or another city? Another thought is can one of your existing staff members do the job or learn it? __________________ "If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less" General Eric Shinseki

2009-08-21, 05:42 PM	#2
stroskey Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2008 Location: Middle Posts: 191	You didn't mention anything about Housing in your list of workers. If this position worked on some Housing items, like Section 8 or CDBG rehab you could use those admin funds to offset some costs. Good thinking with the grant-writing position; the more grants they secure the more your department has to spend (both admin and project costs).

2009-08-26, 04:19 PM	#4
orangina Member Registered: Aug 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 18	We have a firm under contract to do our rehab housing -- that may change in 2-3 years but until then we are under contract to do work through them. So, I would LIKE to match this with housing but my hands are a little tied. The arborist idea is intriguing -- is there a program name that I can pursue further on my own?

2009-08-26, 10:39 PM	#5
kms Cyburbian Registered: Aug 2001 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 1,215	How about a stormwater person, maybe an education specialist, or a watershed specialist? Here in PA, conservation districts administer the state's E&S program. The funding is shared by the state and counties (some counties contribute more than others). Some other CD employees would be ag related, like nutrient management, or the positions above. There are also Chesapeake Bay techs in that watershed. Go to the PACD web page if you want to find more info. Districts are pretty creative when it comes to funding strategies.

2009-11-03, 03:19 PM	#8
joshking2 Cyburbian Registered: Apr 2007 Location: Western NC Posts: 81	Talk to your COG. Alot of times they could use someone P/T and the county could use someone P/T and do a cost share agreement.

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