Reno government jobs could be cut as staff reductions at the city’s Community Development Department are expected to affect planning, building and code enforcement employees.

The City of Reno recently reduced the hours at the front counter of its Permit Place to 9 to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. or by appointment. The most frequent requests here are for fence, water heater, electrical upgrade or sign permits. However, the city’s Virtual Permit Place will remain unchanged. The service allows users to search for building permits, planning cases, public works cases and engineering permits, as well as schedule inspections.

The Community Development office has changed its hours to 8 to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office’s phone lines will be answered by an automated system, which will allow remaining employees to tent to the intake and processing of planning and building requests.

The Community Development office, which now only employs 52 Reno workers, has seen a staff reduction of 106 positions. Those reductions have occurred mostly through attrition and hiring freezes, although 20 government employees recently opted for the city’s early-out program.

The salaries of Community Development employees are paid through the city’s Planning and Building Enterprise Funds, which are made up mostly from revenue generated through permitting, building and planning fees.

Staff reductions are expected to have a minimal impact to the Code Enforcement office, but only if state lawmakers pass legislation requiring banks to renegotiate with homeowners before foreclosing on their homes. That move could reduce foreclosures by 50 percent to 70 percent.