With recruitment at a new low, Hampshire Police could lose millions in government money.
Having won an allocation from the Crime Fighting Fund to pay for 140 additional officers, they have only been able to find 50.
The police authority is urging Home Secretary, David Blunkett, not to withdraw the funding as he is likely to if the posts aren't filled by the end of the current financial year.
Chairman, Simon Hayes, said: "We'll say to him that he needs to address the problem we have in Hampshire."
Leader of Hampshire's Liberal-Democrats, Adrian Collett, said: "In many ways, this is the biggest issue we face. We need to look at every single way of finding recruits to fill these places.
"This is just so important. We really need to get to grips with the issue."
Another member, Richard Gully, warned: "If the Home Secretary removes the money, he will exacerbate a very serious problem and we will be in severe difficulties next year."
Members heard how issues of housing and pay were continuing to plague the recruitment drive while the ongoing jostle between neighbouring forces to attract the few recruits who do come forward was further aggravating the problem.
Ian Readhead, deputy chief constable, said they were losing out to forces in the North and West of England because of Hampshire's high housing prices.
Phil Heath, member for Basingstoke South, asked: "We're now hearing that a lot of money is being made available for key workers. Are we being aggressive enough in making sure that we get a fair share of this?
"We have to worry about the mobility of officers and we must make sure that we have a fair spread of housing available."
But county councillor, Margaret Snaith, threw doubt on this approach: "The officers I have spoken to about housing have made it clear they do not want to live in police houses.
"They want to earn enough money to buy their own homes and I quite understand this."
* It emerged this week that, in recent months, the Hampshire force has gained seven recruits from the Metropolitan Police after they decided to sell their London homes in order to enjoy a higher quality of life.
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