Grants Pass council approves 12 new public-safety positions, directs staff on funding

Grants Pass City Council voted unanimously to add 12 full‑time public‑safety positions, approving the city staff recommendation to fund six police and six fire positions and directing staff to bring a resolution to the Sept. 3 business meeting to confirm the change.

City staff presented two staffing options to the council: a minimal option adding seven full‑time employees (FTEs) — one per shift in police and fire — with an estimated annual cost of about $1,000,000, and an “optimal” package adding 12 FTEs (six police, six fire) with an estimated full annual cost of about $1,830,000. The council voted to pursue the larger package and to reassess financial policies during the next budget process.

The staffing increase is intended to reduce forced callbacks and overtime, improve response times and proactive policing and fire coverage, increase training capacity, and move the city closer to an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 rating for fire protection, staff and the fire chief told the council. "Having that extra personnel, 3 per engine, will give you that ISO readiness faster than anything else," Chief Sanchez said during the presentation.

City staff warned the council that realizing the full cost will take months because recruitment and onboarding take time. Staff said the immediate fiscal impact of the full 12‑FTE package would be roughly $1.83 million annually once fully staffed, and that funding the positions would likely require drawing from contingency or reserve funds and could reduce the general fund’s target fund balance. Staff estimated the city’s fund balance guideline could fall from the current 25–35% range toward an estimated 15–20% bottom range if the additional positions and other planned draws (including a homelessness grant and future pool or facility projects) proceed as presented.

Council members asked about overtime offsets and the timetable for realizing savings. Councilor Rob asked whether the additional hires would reduce overtime spending; Chief Sanchez and other staff said adding FTEs would lower overtime use but that returns would be hard to predict precisely because overtime depends on many variables, including leaves, major incidents and call volume. One staff estimate offered a conservative 20% savings scenario on certain overtime costs, but staff cautioned that the dollar‑for‑dollar reduction in overtime would not match the full cost of new FTEs.

Council discussion tracked fiscal caution and public‑safety priorities. Councilor Joel said he favored an incremental approach given fund balance uncertainty; Councilors Victoria, Seth, Eric and Kathleen said they supported the larger package because of the operational and community benefits, including potential reductions in homeowners' insurance if an ISO upgrade is achieved. Councilor Indra argued for moving forward with the larger package and said public safety is the city’s top duty. Councilor Seth made a formal motion to adopt recommendation number two (add 12 FTEs) and to direct staff to revisit financial policies within the budget process; the motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous roll‑call vote.

Following the vote, staff said they would draft a resolution for the Sept. 3 council meeting to authorize the positions; once that resolution is adopted, staff will open recruitment for the new positions. Staff also told council it plans to return with financial‑policy and fund‑balance policy options in January–March 2026 as a precursor to the next budget.

The added positions are intended to provide more consistent three‑person staffing patterns at fire apparatus (when fully implemented), improved operational reliability during absences, and increased capacity for proactive policing and fire special teams. Staff repeatedly cautioned that hiring timelines and local labor market conditions will slow the pace at which the city realizes the full staffing and financial effects.

Council members emphasized oversight and monitoring. Multiple councilors said they favored starting the larger hiring program while watching year‑end fund balances and reviewing the budget impact during the next budget cycle. The council recorded a unanimous vote in favor of proceeding with the 12‑FTE recommendation and asked staff to return with formal documents and a timeline for implementation.