ORANGE PARK – The second of three budget workshops put the fire and police department budgets under scrutiny, though the atmosphere was jovial with inter-departmental banter.

The first Budget and Finance Committee meeting, held last week, revolved around federal disaster relief, projects and events. Monday night’s meeting was about emergency services and security, and how to better fund them.

Orange Park Police Department Chief Gary Goble said the department issued 1,898 citations in 2021, 523 crash reports and wrote 1,027 total reports. Service calls were down, he said, though they were still high. He highlighted the town had four women officers, the most he could recall the department having.

Goble did budget for an extra code enforcement position. Council members asked if the position was flexible.

The town currently has one code compliance officer. Mayor Randy Anderson said it’s difficult to move the position’s funds around and he said there is a serious need for it.

“We’re averaging less than 100 calls a month,” Town Manager Sarah Campbell said.

“It’s nice having two (code compliance officers) because you have a backup,” Goble said later in the meeting.

The department has cleaned out thousands of items of unneeded physical evidence, or 35% of their inventory.

All evidence has now transitioned to barcodes. In addition, officers have received training for dangerous drugs and firearms. Body cameras have also been ordered, he said.

“We’re the first agency in Clay County to do that,” Goble said.

The department’s average estimated net revenue for the past four fiscal years came in at $460,303.

Highlights for the Orange Park Fire Department included updated certifications and licenses.

The department also received a state grant for a diesel capture exhaust system, Chief John Contestabile said.

The department requested $35,000 more in overtime in the potential budget. Mayor Randy Anderson asked what the town could do to help the department.

Council Member John Hauber asked about retention and where the town stacked up with the county or a similar-sized municipality. Committee member Winnette Sandlin wanted appropriate pay for the firefighters.

Contestabile added that there is a shortage of firefighters and several agencies are competing with one another.

“Applications are a lot lower and we’re trying to find the bodies,” he said.

Campbell said adding six employees could cost more than $500,000, with benefits and station modifications included. She said the town could show the county how many calls the county handles for the town vs. what the town handles for the county.

“We’re going to get really granular with that data to really prove our case,” she said.

Council Member Alan Watt said certifications are affected if staffing is too low. He wanted a meeting with county officials about a $258,000 certification fee.

Watt said $15 an hour for some firefighters was an insult. Council Member Susana Thompson called for change as well.

“We need to do better and take care of our employees,” Hauber said.