Low Salaries Causing Shortage Of Planners

Planning directors of three counties around Philadelphia cite inability to fill planning staff vacancies due to low salaries and the lack of local candidates. The need for staff has become critical due to public and state interest in promoting better planning. Local municipalites look to the counties to provide expertise but the county staff is too busy to provide it and important projects are being deferred. Only one university in PA offers a graduate planning program and its graduates go elsewhere or to private sector. Many officials call on state schools to establsh a planning program.