City presents AB 2561 vacancy report; fire union warns of staffing shortfalls

The Sacramento City Council received a public presentation on May 27, 2025, of the city—s 2024 staffing vacancy data under Assembly Bill 2561 and heard the Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 describe operational staffing shortfalls that have led to mandatory overtime and temporary company closures.

AB 2561 requires public agencies to report staffing vacancies, recruitment efforts and retention strategies before adopting their annual budget. Human Resources Manager Ebony Heaven presented citywide vacancy data and recruitment and retention efforts, and said the citywide vacancy rate for all positions in 2024 was 18%, with full-time represented positions at about 14% and much higher rates in part-time and noncareer roles. She described legal and operational reasons positions remain vacant, the city—s use of vacancy savings for one-time needs, and ongoing efforts to modernize hiring including a new NeoGov onboarding tool, blind-application screening, reduced barriers to qualification and expanded outreach to community partners.

Why it matters: Council members framed the report as a first step under AB 2561 to increase transparency before budget decisions. Council members asked for more granular analysis by department and cautioned against relying on single averages when staffing needs vary widely by function.

Details of the HR presentation

Ebony…