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Q&A
Discussion on SBS vacancy rate and its operational impact
0:22:56
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120 sec
Council Member Feliz inquires about the SBS vacancy rate and its impact on operations. Commissioner Gross provides clarification on the actual vacancy rate and explains the agency's growth and hiring strategies.
- Initial concern about an 18.7% vacancy rate (67 vacancies)
- Commissioner clarifies that SBS's own vacancy rate is actually 11%
- Agency headcount has grown 17% since the start of the Adams administration
- Strategies for filling vacancies include internships, fellowships, and focus on employee retention
Oswald Feliz
0:22:56
Okay.
0:22:56
SPS currently has 67 vacancies more or less or about 18.7% vacancy rate.
0:23:04
How are these vacancies?
0:23:05
I know it's a big issue with many different agencies, but how are these vacancies affecting SBS's ability to operate and to carry out its effective mission?
0:23:14
It's important mission.
Dynishal Gross
0:23:16
I appreciate your concern about a workforce chair Felice and I'd like to make just a distinction in the vacancies that are for SBS's programming and vacancies that are covered within our budget but are for some of the pass through entities that are funded through our budget code.
0:23:36
So SBS for its own positions currently has only an 11% vacancy rate.
0:23:44
Overall our agency headcount has grown 17% since the start of the Adams administration when our total allocated lines were at 304.
0:23:55
So this year we have had 10 separations and some of those were due to retirement, others due to talented SBSers going on to other wonderful opportunities.
0:24:10
To backfill those 10 separations we have thus far received three hiring allotments in 2025.
0:24:18
In 2024 we received eight allotments and we're able to advance hires using those allotments and we are working hard to have a robust recruitment pipeline for existing vacancies.
0:24:32
Our strategies for filling those vacancies include internships, robust participation and fellowship programs, and focusing of course on employee retention through investments in training and employee wellness and SBS culture for our existing staff.
0:24:49
But we are not currently at nearly 19% for SBS's own work.
0:24:54
We are at 11% vacancy rate.