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Chautauqua County approves probation pay‑grade increases to help recruitment and retention
Summary
The Public Safety Committee approved a reallocation of salary grades for probation staff — including Spanish‑speaking positions — as part of the 2025 budget to address high caseloads and expected attrition, officials said.
The Chautauqua County Public Safety Committee approved a resolution to reallocate salary grades in the county probation department to improve recruitment and retention, the department director said.
Gilbert Taylor, director of probation, told the committee the changes are included in the 2025 budget and are intended to reduce turnover and make the department more attractive to candidates. "This has been included in our 2025 budget... it is really necessary for recruitment and retention in our department," Taylor said. He said the department currently has 32 staff members (22 probation officers) and that some probation officers are handling caseloads of about 70 people each — a level he described as "almost undoable." Taylor said the plan uses grant money and attrition over a five‑year phasing to limit county expense.
Committee members asked about Spanish‑speaking positions and outreach; Taylor said the department had attempted recruitment efforts, noted two Spanish‑speaking staff (one on maternity leave), and reported difficulty filling Spanish‑speaking officer exam slots. After questions from members, the committee voted to carry the resolution.
The committee recorded the vote as carried and moved on to the next agenda item.
