Countywide

With the weak economy limiting applications for major development projects, the County Board of Supervisors took the first steps toward eliminating as many as 20 jobs in its Planning and Land Use Department.

The staff reductions in the 260-member department would save about $300,000 during the remainder of the 1991-92 fiscal year, and approximately $700,000 next year, said Lauren Wasserman, the department’s director.

Thirteen of the 20 staff members who would lose their jobs under the Wednesday decision have already been placed in vacancies in other county departments, Wasserman said. He said he is optimistic the seven other employees will also find jobs with the county.

“It’s clear that the department will never be the size it was in the ‘80s,” Wasserman said.

During budget deliberations scheduled for Tuesday, the supervisors will decide whether to close a planning department walk-in office in San Marcos, which would force North County permit applicants to travel to Kearny Mesa. If the office is left open, 19 jobs will be eliminated instead of 20.

The board must ratify the staff cuts in a second vote scheduled for the same day.