The Cayuga County Judicial & Public Safety Committee on Nov. 5 approved accepting a SFY 2025 Next Generation (NG911) grant to implement a new telephone system recorder and associated connectivity and authorized hiring a part‑time emergency dispatcher to reduce overtime costs.

Denise Finler, Cayuga County 911 administrator, told the committee three new dispatchers recently completed basic dispatch school and began roughly 12 weeks of floor training, and that interviews are scheduled in November to fill four remaining vacancies. “We have 21 FTE,” Finler said, adding “based on our center size, call volumes, radio traffic, and the amount of talk groups that dispatchers manage, we really should have 24 FTE.”

Finler introduced the NG911 acceptance resolution, saying the grant will fund a new telephone system recorder and connectivity. The motion to accept the SFY 2025 Next Generation grant (JP1) was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote; the committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript.

Committee members then considered JP4, a resolution to fill one vacant part‑time emergency services dispatcher position created by a resignation. Finler explained the employee to be hired is a returning full‑time dispatcher who will shift to part time and can begin work immediately, easing overtime demands. She described part‑timers as a tool to “offset overtime,” noting part‑time pay is lower than overtime rates and that part‑timers are limited in monthly hours but are used to fill open shifts.

On budget projections, Finler summarized a staffing analysis showing the center is operating at roughly 30% higher workload than standards indicate and said burnout among dispatchers is increasing. She forecast the department will exceed its overtime budget and described expected surpluses elsewhere in salary lines; committee members asked to have overtime and part‑time budget lines clarified for the record. The motion to fill the part‑time position (JP4) was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Finler urged legislators to consider staffing and retention pressures when reviewing the county budget and said the department will follow up with detailed budget numbers and the staffing analysis on request.