Homewood says city policy not an attempt to ‘defund the police’

Homewood has paused hiring and promotions across all city departments as officials conduct an organizational assessment and prepare the city’s first budget under its new council-manager form of government.The temporary freeze applies citywide and affects positions not already in the recruitment process or actively being advertised, according to City Manager Cale Smith.Personnel costs have “grown significantly” in recent years and now represent approximately 70% of the city’s general fund, Smith wrote in an email to AL.com Tuesday.The city has also used portions of its accumulated fund balance to support ongoing operations, he added.“As city manager, I believed it was prudent to pause hiring and promotions temporarily while we completed the organizational assessment and developed the city’s first budget under the new council-manager form of government,” Smith wrote. “That allows us to make long-term staffing decisions based on the city’s operational needs and financial capacity rather than continuing to add recurring obligations before that work is complete.”The temporary freeze will remain in place until the organizational assessment is complete, and staffing recommendations can be implemented within the budget adopted by the City Council, according to Smith.Some critics have raised concerns about first responders leaving for positions in nearby cities, but Smith said that has not been the case in Homewood.“The temporary pause is a management tool to ensure that long-term staffing decisions are made strategically and responsibly, not a reflection of the city’s commitment to public safety,” Smith wrote. “Since this temporary management decision was implemented, Homewood has not had any police officers or firefighters leave to accept positions with neighboring agencies.”Smith emphasized that protecting public safety remains the city’s highest priority and said they continue to work closely with leadership of both departments.When the organizational assessment is completed, officials will evaluate each currently vacant position in Homewood individually based on operational needs, organizational structure and available funding, Smith wrote.He said some positions will be identified as immediate priorities, while others “may present opportunities to improve organizational efficiency through restructuring or reassignment of responsibilities.”“Our goal is to make thoughtful, data-driven staffing decisions that position the City to provide excellent services over the long term,” Smith wrote.“Public safety will continue to be a primary consideration in those staffing decisions, just as it is in the City’s budgeting and operational planning.”In a city council meeting July 27, officials, including Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress, rejected characterizations that the freeze represents an attempt to “defund the police,” and praised Smith for his efforts.“I want to thank Cale for the work that he does,” said Ward 1 councilor Paul S. Simmons II.“I know that there have been some things said that I don’t necessarily agree with, specifically about the approach of defunding the police and fire. That is not the intent. We all know that that’s more of an... We’re waiting on an organizational study to evaluate staffing needs, and I want to thank him for his work in getting that done.” Smith wrote Tuesday that defunding means reducing financial support for law enforcement, which he said has not occurred.Efforts to reach Homewood police and fire departments for comment were not immediately successful. Heather Gann is a breaking news and Birmingham metro reporter for AL.com. Prior to her role in breaking news, Gann covered any issues that directly impacted Birmingham metro area residents for The Birmingham...