A rally Tuesday by St. Joseph County dispatchers at the County-City Building asked for more help in their department.
The protesters were calling for 14 more staffers to be hired, something they say they’ve been waiting for for two years. Some of them say that due to understaffing, they’ve worked as many as a thousand hours of overtime in a year.
The 911 center has 64 dispatchers in it, and 14 more would help it work at peak efficiency, and allow the employees to have more of a home life and less overtime.
As of June 1, the overtime budget is already $100,000 over for the year. The executive board should meet in early September to discuss the matter, which would need financial approval from the County Council, and the South Bend and Mishawaka city councils.
3 comments
These councils don’t have time for nonsense like 911. Too busy worrying about new taxes to levy for really important things. They just don’t know what they are yet but get the money first…so corrupt and self serving. Just like our DC politicians. I find it interesting the councils are so tight with money for community services (like 911) but will spend money without thought on some of the dumbest things ever.
No money for 911. We need to spend our money to put in trans gender restrooms in all public buildings and other really relevant and important things that effect .00001% of our citizens. Also, South Bend mayor Pete Butti wants to get going on 50 permanent housing units for homeless people that also make up .0001% of our citizens. 911 is just not necessary as it serves 100% of our citizens. You know this will be a reason for a new 911 tax because we have no money for such nonsense.
Typical leftist tactic of cutting the police and fire first. It’s easier to justify raising taxes to pay for them than all the other useless stuff they spend on.