Solving City Staffing Gaps: How Interim Staff Save Local Governments

Your city might be facing a staffing crisis. Interim staff could be the quickest solution. The 2023 MissionSquare Research Institute workforce survey reveals that 54% of HR professionals in state and local government expect numerous retirements soon. This wave of departures could disrupt public services in crucial departments.

Temporary staffing services can quickly place qualified professionals within 7-10 days. This helps departments that just need immediate support – like finance, community development, IT, human resources, and public works. These departments can keep running smoothly during staff transitions. Many interim professionals are former public sector executives who bring their unique experience. They provide specialized expertise and help reduce your team’s workload during busy periods.

Understanding Temporary Staffing Services in Government

Government agencies use temporary staffing as a practical way to handle non-permanent employment needs. Federal agencies hire temporary employees to work on special projects, manage increased workloads, meet seasonal demands, and cover permanent workers. Specific regulations control how these arrangements work and what limits apply.

The Code of Federal Regulations sets guidelines for government agencies to make temporary and term appointments. Temporary limited appointments usually last up to one year, with possible extension for another year (24 months total). In spite of that, term appointments can run longer, from 1-4 years for standard positions and up to 10 years for STEM-related jobs.

Supervisors must certify each temporary position as genuinely temporary and clearly document why it’s needed. Government agencies can’t fill a position with temporary appointments for more than 24 months in any 3-year period.

The label “temporary” can be misleading. These positions often last for years without offering permanent employment. Public sector agencies in California have started relying more on temporary workers who perform duties similar to those of permanent employees.

Temporary professionals earn the same hourly rates as permanent employees but get fewer benefits. They typically:

• Don’t earn periodic step increases when paid under the General Schedule
• Are excluded from the Federal Employees Retirement System
• Don’t receive health insurance for the first year
• Lack of procedural protections from adverse actions

Interim staffing helps maintain continuity during transitions like retirements, resignations, extended leaves, or long recruitment cycles. Temporary staffing solutions work well in functions of all types, from executive leadership to department heads and specialized technical roles.

Interim staff provide affordable solutions quickly with minimal training time. Departments with specialized or hard-to-fill roles feel staffing pressure most intensely, especially in finance, community development, IT, human resources, and public works. These departments compete with private sector jobs and often struggle to find qualified candidates.

Temporary professionals do more than just fill gaps. They help maintain service delivery, bring specialized expertise, and take pressure off internal teams during busy periods.

Key Departments That Benefit Most

Government departments regularly depend on interim staff to keep their essential services running. A close look at spending patterns and staffing requirements shows which areas get the most value from temporary professionals.

Finance departments experience intense pressure, particularly during budget preparation and audit seasons. The Florida Government Finance Officers Association notes that many local governments need temporary help to meet deadlines for budgets, audits, and Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports. Municipal operations can come to a standstill if finance positions stay vacant, which makes these roles ideal candidates for interim solutions.

Healthcare services within government need temporary staff extensively. Federal agencies spent $1.7 billion on temporary healthcare staffing in 2018, which is a big deal as it means that spending increased five-fold from 2008 levels. Healthcare-related temporary contracts for just five federal entities (Veterans Administration, Indian Health Service, Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons, and Federal Occupational Health clinics) reached $884 million in 2018. This amount represented 47% of all federal temporary help contracts that year.

Public Works departments need interim leadership positions frequently. The Wichita Public Works department employs interim assistant directors, and Baltimore’s Department of Public Works organizational chart displays multiple interim positions, including an interim deputy director. These departments maintain resilient infrastructure—water systems, roads, utilities—where service disruptions directly affect public safety.

Human Resources divisions see great benefits from temporary staffing. North Carolina’s Temporary Solutions program proves this point by connecting temporary workers with state government agencies for nearly 40 years. This long-standing record shows the lasting value of interim staffing in government HR functions.

Temporary staff become vital when vacancies reach critical levels. New York City reported citywide vacancies five times higher than pre-2020 levels. Several agencies serving low-income residents faced vacancy rates approaching or exceeding 20%. These circumstances make interim professionals essential to maintain continuity in departments of all types.

Making Interim Staffing a Strategic Tool

Interim staffing serves as a powerful strategic tool for local governments that goes beyond filling empty positions. Local governments should view temporary staff as specialized resources who can accomplish specific objectives within defined timeframes.

Temporary appointments work best for time-limited needs that aren’t permanent. Federal regulations specifically authorize these appointments “to accomplish project work, to accommodate extraordinary workload, or to continue functions when future funding is not certain”. This approach lets you bring in specialized talent without committing to permanent positions.

Strategic opportunities emerge from the flexibility of interim staffing. Temporary professionals can help pilot new roles, test departmental structures, handle seasonal workload spikes, or support one-time initiatives. Many government agencies bring in temporary workers for election support, with roles ranging from outreach coordinators to vote-by-mail processors.

Interim staffing often provides budget-friendly solutions. Temporary employees receive the same hourly rates as permanent staff but don’t earn periodic step increases. This results in substantial savings. These employees typically don’t qualify for retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Here’s how to get the most value from interim professionals:

1. Establish clear project parameters – Define specific goals, timelines, and deliverables up front
2. Streamline onboarding – Create efficient processes so interim staff can be productive immediately
3. Document expectations – When using seasonal employees, federal regulations require an employment agreement that outlines minimum and maximum work periods

Interim professionals offer fresh points of view and specialized expertise unavailable within your permanent workforce. Research shows that temporary employees help organizations “tap into a broad knowledge base”. They bring skills that aren’t needed full-time but become significant during periods of transformation or specialized projects.

Your municipality can maintain service continuity and benefit from external expertise without the long-term financial commitments of permanent hires.

Conclusion

Local governments face urgent staffing challenges today. Interim staffing provides a practical solution with clear benefits. Temporary professionals do more than fill gaps—they bring specialized expertise right when you need it.

Finance, healthcare, public works, and human resources departments face the most pressure. These departments can keep their essential services running smoothly through smart use of interim staff. On top of that, these professionals bring fresh views and specialized knowledge your municipality might not otherwise have access to.

Don’t look at temporary staffing as just a quick fix—it’s a valuable strategic tool. Your government can adapt quickly to changing circumstances because you have the flexibility to meet time-limited needs without permanent commitments. You can handle seasonal demands, test new roles, or support one-time projects while staying fiscally responsible.

Interim staffing helps ensure service continuity during transitions. The public sector faces retirement waves and growing competition for talent. Temporary professionals help keep essential services running smoothly. These interim solutions give your municipality immediate relief and strategic benefits that lead to long-term success.

Let MuniTemps help prepare your city during transitions. Contact our team at jobs@munitemps.com or visit our website www.munitemps.com.

Remember that MuniTemps is an expert in “all things municipal”, including staffing, recruiting, and creating career opportunities for job seekers with an affinity for public service in local government.