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59 <br /> Detention Center Staffing Analysis Orange County, NC <br /> An agency is rarely fully staffed, as there are vacancies that occur as a result of <br /> retirement, termination, promotion, reassignment, and other factors. When these events <br /> occur, it takes a significant amount of time to recruit a new position, complete the hiring <br /> process, for the new hire to be trained to be a Detention Officer, and complete the FTO <br /> program before the individual can independently work. Given this consideration, <br /> agencies must always hire above the number needed to provide adequate staffing <br /> resources (overhire). <br /> Overhire, as noted, is consistent with best practice and is considered progressive as it <br /> allows for continuous hiring in order to help avoid the disadvantages associated with <br /> short staffing. There are, however,two particular elements associated with overhire that <br /> need to be considered: authorized overhires versus authorized and funded overhires. <br /> • Authorized overhire positions are those requested by the associated department <br /> and confirmed by the governing body in a position control or other document. They <br /> are, however, not funded positions, thereby requiring subsequent confirmation by <br /> the governing body if these are ultimately occupied by personnel. This approach <br /> allows for the department in question to engage in continuous hiring, but also <br /> requires a subsequent (expected) approval from the governing body for funds to <br /> expend monies on these overhire position types. Authorized but not funded <br /> overhires are considered an additional, but onerous, internal budgetary control. <br /> • Authorized and funded overhire positions confirm by the governing body in the <br /> annual budget both the approval of positions but also that funds are immediately <br /> available to fill them. Monies for these positions are "front-loaded" into the <br /> department budget and are therefore managed over the year accordingly. This <br /> overhire approach is less constricting than the former but may be perceived as <br /> providing excessive budgetary flexibility (unless certain budget restrictions are <br /> applied) as these funds could potentially be used for other needs through inter- <br /> fund transfers. Authorized and funded overhires can result in end-of-year <br /> budgetary surplus for a department. <br /> In sum, a selection needs to be made with respect to authorized versus authorized and <br /> funded overhire positions. Generally, for local governments that deploy this progressive <br /> approach, the authorized and budgeted overhire is somewhat more common, but both <br /> approaches are in use nationally. <br /> The overhire practice should become a permanent component of the Detention Center <br /> staffing plan. The amount of `buffer' the Jail requires should be based on the historical <br /> Matrix Consulting Group 54 <br />