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Madera approves pay‑range changes and targeted hiring bonuses to shore up police, dispatch and engineering staff
Summary
To address persistent vacancies and turnover, the council approved a package of salary‑range adjustments and a targeted hiring bonus program (up to $35,000 per hire paid over three years for select lateral hires) aimed at police officers, public‑safety dispatchers and licensed civil engineers; funding will come largely from existing salary savings and Measure K.
The Madera City Council on March 18 approved a multi‑part personnel package designed to address chronic recruitment and retention challenges in three groups: sworn police, public‑safety dispatch, and licensed civil engineers.
Human Resources Director Silva told the council that turnover has been especially acute among public‑safety dispatchers (11 budgeted positions with four vacancies since 2021 and high short‑tenure departures) and that the police department currently has 76 sworn positions with roughly 10 officer vacancies and many younger officers with under four years’ tenure. The city also has long‑standing vacancies in senior/ deputy civil engineer positions.
Key elements approved - Dispatcher and supervision changes: create a Public Safety Dispatcher II classification, raise entry pay, and adjust two nonsworn…
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