Oregon transportation agency behind on winter hiring due to funding delay

The Oregon Department of Transportation is rushing to fill vacant snowplowing jobs and other positions as it recovers from resignations and a hiring freeze.

The department normally begins hiring winter maintenance positions in July, Deputy Director Travis Brouwer told the Joint Committee on Transportation on Wednesday . But the threat of layoffs as the department waited for legislative action spurred an exodus of state transportation workers, he said.

Between late June to late September, the department experienced 206 employee resignations. Half of those who left the department chose to retire or resigned after receiving layoff notices, he said.

After lawmakers failed to pass a transportation funding plan during the five-month legislative session, the department identified 483 plan