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Nome council approves pay package aimed at shoring up police dispatch staffing
Summary
After the police chief described a staffing shortfall in dispatch, the council approved a resolution to raise pay for communications officers, a change that staff estimated would cost about $60,000 for seven positions; councilors said higher base pay could reduce costly overtime.
The Nome City Council voted to approve a resolution to increase pay for police communications officers after the police chief told the council the department is struggling to staff its dispatch operation.
Chief Mike, the city’s police chief, told the council there are four communications officers on staff and one is expected to leave this week for maternity leave, leaving only three to cover 24-hour service. "When you have something really bad going on, you want someone of high quality answering that phone," Chief Mike said, arguing the department must make pay more competitive with private-sector jobs and other local employers to recruit and retain trained dispatchers.
City Manager Lee and finance staff outlined several options discussed by management, including step increases, targeted bonuses and advertising a more competitive starting salary. Finance staff member Nikki said the personnel change tied to the resolution increases police salary and benefit lines by $59,042 as noted in the midyear budget amendment.
Officials estimated the total fiscal impact to put the proposed package in place for the affected positions at about $60,000. Council discussion noted that higher base pay could reduce overtime spending and the need to pull patrol officers off the road to cover dispatch shifts, potentially offsetting some costs over time.
The mayor called the roll on the resolution; recorded affirmative responses during the roll included Council member Green, Council member Miller and Council member Johnson, and the mayor declared the motion carried.
The council asked staff to continue work on recruitment and retention measures and to return with any required budget adjustments tied to the resolution. The resolution took immediate effect as the council moved on to other agenda items.
