TRPA cutbacks

1/09 Tahoe Mt. News unedited story:

Budget issues and lawsuits are forcing the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to rethink the way it conducts business.
Employees have been offered buyouts, with layoffs possible. The Stateline office will be closed Jan. 16, Feb. 13, March 20, April 10, May 22 and June 19 – and employees not paid those days. The Tahoe City office will be shuttered permanently as of Jan. 15.
The agency had canceled all North Shore meetings, but free office space was offered for 2009 so those can continue.
“The budget scenario we are operating under assumes the blue boating program and buoy permitting we are getting ready to start on will not happen,” said Dennis Oliver, TRPA spokesman. “We have to go with the worst case. The shorezone lawsuit by the League (to Save Lake Tahoe) and Sierra Club seeks full restraining order from implementing those programs that would benefit the Lake.”
It is anticipated the employees working on those programs will be redirected to other projects and will fill in the gaps left by people severing their ties with TRPA.