Area building departments struggling

With the housing downturn, cities in South Florida are having a hard time finding enough work for their code inspectors. Developers are pulling out of projects, which means the permit fees that pay inspectors’ salaries are decreasing. As a result, many towns and cities are shrinking their building departments. Pembroke Pines will discuss cutting its building department by 10 to 15 workers at a meeting tomorrow. Davie inspectors are doing contract work in Hallandale Beach. Miami-Dade County’s building department cut 75 jobs in 2008. Miami has opted to get rid of jobs through attrition.