Lewiston officials review Social Services budget as state law change reduces relocations

Lewiston City Council members and Social Services staff discussed changes to the department’s proposed budget on March 1 at a budget workshop, focusing on staffing, federal/state funding and a recent State of Maine law that altered municipal responsibility for relocated residents.

Director Brackett, Social Services director, told the council the department is requesting a new full-time G17 caseworker position (the fifth caseworker) that adds $47,000 to the wages line; the request accompanies a plan to convert two part-time positions into one full-time post and a shift of some temporary wages to other lines. "Temporary workers do not receive health, or retirement unless they're at a certain hour," Brackett said, explaining differences in fringe costs for temporary versus full-time employees.

The department reported that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding covered two temporary positions in the prior year and that CDBG may cover one of the positions again this year. "If the funding does come through,…