San Luis council hears urgent calls to fix pay, avert public‑safety staffing crisis

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 said.

Fire Chief Angel Ramirez made a related appeal, citing rising EMS workloads: the department recorded about 5,200 calls for service last year and found that roughly 35% of its calls are to the international port of entry, a pattern that stretches ambulance turnaround and ties up crews for extended transport times. Ramirez said long lead times for ambulances (quoted by vendors at 16–24 months) and aging apparatus make staffing shortfalls more acute.

HR Director Adela Cortez presented two compensation scenarios for council consideration: (1) a citywide percentage increase tied to years of service (a service‑based uplift for all classifications), or (2) a more targeted market adjustment that raises entry and progression pay for public‑safety classifications and applies seniority‑based increases. Administration said option two (which separates public safety from a general citywide percentage) would cost roughly $1.2 million as a one‑time fiscal impact in the current budget framing; HR and finance will provide a full breakdown by classification and a second spreadsheet showing the cost to move employees to pay midpoints.

Council members pressed for a clearer figure showing what it would cost to move longer‑tenured staff (roughly seven to 15 years’ service) closer to market midpoints, and asked HR to model multi‑year affordability (including effect on benefits, longevity pay and the general fund). Acting Mayor Luis Cabera asked departments to email priority lists to the city manager and noted a May 6 budget work session where council will consider the salary scenarios alongside capital‑project tradeoffs.

What’s next: HR will deliver classification‑level costings and a midpoint scenario for council review ahead of the May 6 work session. The council asked staff to identify which projects or capital items could be deferred if council directs more funds to wages.