A total of 28 workers for the Development Services Department have lost their job in the city of San Diego, due to a huge reduction in construction projects in the area. 

The employees that were let go were getting their paychecks paid by fees charged to the developer. With the amount of construction being reduced, there was not enough money to pay all of the workers, reported Darren Pudgil, a spokesman for Mayor Jerry Sanders.

The wide range of workers, which included civil engineers and project managers, did not qualify to fit under the mayor’s promise to try and get around layoffs after the labor unions made an agreement that states they are now receiving $30 million less in pay and benefits than previously given. Sanders made the deal in an attempt to fix the $60 million deficit the city is facing in their $1.15 billion general fund, which pays for daily operations. The laid-off employees receive their paychecks from a different fund. 

The large reduction in construction also led the county to let nine planning staffers go in February.