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San Luis council hears urgent calls to fix pay, avert public‑safety staffing crisis
Summary
Police and fire chiefs told the council that low pay and salary compression are driving experienced officers and firefighters away, fueling recruitment and response‑time risks. HR presented two compensation options and asked council to pick priorities before a May 6 work session.
City leaders at Wednesday’s budget retreat heard stark warnings that pay compression and below‑market starting wages are pushing public‑safety and other staff to leave, a problem department heads say is already reducing capacity.
"We’re on the verge of a staffing crisis that will result in delayed response times and eventually a heightened risk to community safety," Police Chief Nigel Reynoso told the council, outlining that the police department has 43 sworn officers on a roster that the department’s staffing model says should be about 65. "We have hired 20 officers in two years, and eight have left because of pay," he…
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