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Ways & Means changes position‑approval process for elected offices; approves 9‑1‑1 telecommunicator hire
Summary
Controller Ben Dawson presented a revised process for position approvals that gives elected officials flexibility to implement budget reductions within their offices. The committee approved the procedural change and a recommended public‑safety telecommunicator hire to address impending staffing shortfalls in dispatch.
Controller Ben Dawson said the county is revising how position approvals are handled for elected offices so the offices, rather than the county, implement personnel changes against a budget target. "If the board of commissioners determines reductions must be made, they provide those numbers to the elected offices and then they evaluate how to implement them," Ben said. He said positions that report to the comptroller will still follow the normal recommendation process.
Ben presented the position outlook: five filled positions, two recommended due to separations or promotions, and ten elected‑office position changes tied to promotions, separations or retirements. He said the controller's office recommended one public‑safety telecommunicator position for 9‑1‑1 staffing and introduced Director Kelly Cunningham to explain operational need.
"I have 16 dispatchers, telecommunicators, 6 supervisors. It takes 6 to 9 months to get 1 trained, and we have 1 vacancy right now," Kelly said, adding upcoming retirements and a potential Police Academy departure will produce additional shortages. Kelly warned that without hiring and training now, "we're gonna find ourselves in a higher staffing crisis."
A motion to accept the controller's recommendation and authorize the telecommunicator position was moved and approved by voice vote. Commissioners discussed the practical effect: the committee will continue to review and approve non‑elected‑office positions while elected officials will be tasked with implementing position reductions within approved budget targets during budget cycles.
