Health Department Faces Staffing Crisis Amid Requests for New Positions and Salary Increases

Hunt County officials are grappling with staffing shortages in the health department and law enforcement, as discussions during the recent Commissioners Court Special Session highlighted urgent needs for new hires and budget adjustments.

The health department has been struggling to fill a food service inspector position for months, with the current salary of $63.05 per hour failing to attract qualified candidates. The role requires a college degree and specific science coursework, which has limited the pool of applicants. Rodney, the department head, is currently managing inspections alone, overseeing over 500 restaurants biannually, while also handling septic inspections. The pressing need for additional staff has led to discussions about potentially raising salaries to attract more applicants.

In parallel, the sheriff's department is facing a critical shortage of deputies, with calls for five new positions to improve response times and public safety. Chief Deputy Buddy Oxford emphasized the need for more personnel to ensure adequate coverage, particularly in light of increasing demands on law enforcement. The department had initially requested seven new positions but scaled back to five, seeking guidance from the court on budget adjustments to accommodate these needs.

Other departments, including veterans services and Homeland Security, have also requested raises and additional positions, adding to the budgetary pressures. The court is considering these requests but is aware of the financial constraints they face, with discussions leaning towards prioritizing law enforcement and public safety roles.

As the county navigates these staffing challenges, officials are weighing the implications of salary adjustments and the necessity of filling critical positions to maintain public health and safety. The court plans to revisit these discussions before finalizing the budget, aiming to balance the needs of various departments while addressing the county's financial limitations.