I read with interest people raising dog issues in Byron Shire. People are saying Council needs more money to beef up compliance. In days gone by the staffing numbers were around 130 indoor staff and 140 outdoor staff.
Since Mr Gainger put in his six years as GM the numbers have been altered significantly, today the numbers are approximately 64 outdoor staff and approximately 300 indoor staff. How anyone can possibly justify this is beyond me. The fleet numbers would have increased as a lot of these salaried positions would include a vehicle, you also have the increase in salaries, which include extra infrastructure etc. With the increased number of cars supplied, fuel card numbers would have increased and fleet running costs – where does this money come from?
This is not feasible for the future, the strain on Council’s budget must leave shortfalls in services able to be provided at the level needed in the Shire. The elected Council should be asking questions of the general manager as to how his executive team justify the increasing number of salaried officers while services seem to be declining in Byron Shire.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
