Department heads warn 40-hour proposals and hiring freezes could strain frontline offices

Several department heads told the council the operational effects of moving to 40-hour workweeks and hiring freezes are complex and could strain frontline services. Delaware County Treasurer (speaker 9) urged caution, saying his office faces heavy demand in early November and that increasing hours without corresponding pay would likely leave him "with lines out the door" and staff departures: "If you don't pay them, I'm gonna have an empty office." He estimated a 4% raise for his staff would total roughly $15,000.

Tanya Dunsmore, chief deputy auditor (speaker 11), described equity and supervision concerns after some staff voluntarily moved to 40 hours and warned that raising lower-level staff without addressing chief-deputy pay would create compression where supervisors earn less than subordinates. She argued the council should consider supervisor pay and retention when designing any across-the-board changes.