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Grants Pass leaders outline staffing shortfalls, present funding options for police and fire
Summary
A public safety committee, police and fire chiefs and city finance staff told the Grants Pass City Council a combination of vacancies, overtime and new leave laws are straining departments; staff were directed to return with incremental staffing scenarios and reserve-target options.
Grants Pass city officials on Monday laid out staffing shortfalls and funding options for police and fire services, and councilors asked staff to return with incremental hiring scenarios and analysis of lowering the city’s general-fund reserve target.
Alan Hartford, chair of the newly formed Public Safety Committee, told council the committee’s work over several meetings identified staffing, training ramp-up time, overtime costs, retention and recruitment as the primary issues facing both departments. The committee asked council to consider hiring additional personnel; Hartford said the committee had previously suggested hiring eight positions based on recommendations made earlier in the budget cycle.
Grants Pass Police Chief Hintzeman described a “difficult” recruiting environment and said the department has seen vacancies rise in recent years. He said the department is authorized for 57 sworn officers; at the time of the workshop the department had several vacancies but expected two recent…
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