DBPR tells committee vacancies hamper enforcement; asks to realign rate to boost recruitment

TALLAHASSEE — Melanie Griffin, secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, told the State Administration Budget Subcommittee that DBPR had 34 positions vacant at least 180 days and outlined how the department is prioritizing hires and realigning resources.

Griffin said 13 of the 34 roles have candidates identified, eight positions are closed and under review, four are being advertised, five are being reclassified, two are held open for PERC processes, one is under review for a rate adjustment and one was withdrawn by a selected candidate. She said one position was identified as nonessential and recommended for elimination in the governor's proposed budget.

DBPR's human resources analysis, Griffin said, estimated the cost of turnover in the three most affected divisions ranges from roughly $150,000 to $1 million. She told lawmakers the department has seen a near doubling of complaints over the past year in several divisions and that an alignment of salaries and rate—about $300,000—would materially help recruitment and retention, particularly in condo enforcement and the law enforcement bureau.

Committee members asked about enforcement workload and whether positions remain necessary. Griffin said the workload justifies the roles and cited recent legislation that increased complaint volumes; she said the department met about 80% of hiring tied to bills with fiscal attachments but the remaining positions were harder to fill at allotted rates.

Griffin also noted DBPR has an ombudsman (Ryan Schiff) who holds regular office hours for condo unit owners and associations and that initial confusion about a long vacancy for that post was overstated; the position was filled in September 2024.

DBPR offered to provide the committee with its cost‑of‑turnover analysis and more detailed lists of which vacancies have start dates and which are on hold.