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Finance director reports one vacancy, recruitment steps and proposed 3.2% COLA for FY 2026–27
Summary
Finance Director Chanel Zamore presented the statutorily required recruitment and retention update: Buellton has 20 authorized full-time positions with one vacancy (administrative analyst, ~5% vacancy rate), recruitment outreach on social media, housing allowance and benefit changes, and a proposed 3.2% COLA for FY 2026–27; council received and filed the report.
At Tuesday’s meeting Finance Director Chanel Zamore presented the city’s statutorily required status report on vacancies, recruitment and retention under Government Code section 3502.3.
Zamore said the city has 20 authorized full‑time employees and one current vacancy — the administrative analyst position — which she described as roughly a 5% vacancy rate. “We have the administrative analyst currently vacant. We’ve been staffing it through a temp agency,” Zamore said, adding that recruitment efforts include posting openings on Facebook, Instagram and the city website and offering remote-work options where appropriate.
Zamore reviewed recent compensation decisions and incentives: a previously authorized 5% cost‑of‑living adjustment earlier in the year, a proposed 3.2% COLA for FY 2026–27, increased employer medical contributions, a housing allowance, bilingual pay and support for professional certification and continuing education. She also listed hiring barriers: in some classifications budgeted compensation remains below market and the region’s high housing costs constrain the candidate pool.
The council opened the public hearing, received no public speakers and asked clarifying questions. Council members had no further edits; the council accepted the report as received and filed for inclusion in budget materials.
Why it matters: the report satisfies a state requirement and frames personnel decisions tied to the upcoming budget, including the proposed 3.2% COLA and recruitment strategies.
