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HR director: 237 county vacancies, 496 PLT cash‑out applications processed; turnover above target for year
Summary
HR Director Catherine Mead reported 237 countywide vacancies and said HR processed 496 applications in the October‑December 2024 PLT cash‑out, approving 19,296.25 hours ($658,475.47). The yearlong voluntary turnover rate was 14.21%, above the county target of under 10%.
Catherine Mead, Beaufort County human resources director, told the county finance committee on Jan. 27 that the county had 237 vacant positions and that HR has begun more detailed monthly vacancy reporting and quarterly turnover reporting intended to inform the FY26 position audit.
Mead said the county has 1,621 budgeted positions and 1,549 full‑time equivalent employees. She reported that HR processed 496 employee applications during the 2024 PLT (personal leave time) cash‑out application period (Nov. 13–Dec. 3, 2024), approving 19,296.25 hours for payout with a cash value of $658,475.47, which was distributed on the Dec. 13 payroll. "Our goal should be less than 10% voluntary turnover on an annual basis," Mead said, noting the previous 12‑month voluntary turnover rate was 14.21% (Nov. 1, 2023–Oct. 31, 2024).
Mead presented a sample vacancy report showing department‑level breakdowns; she said the largest vacancy counts were in detention, EMS and the sheriff’s office. For the Nov. 1–Dec. 31, 2024 sample period she cited an average county headcount of 1,383 and 33 separations, with voluntary separations accounting for about 1.66 percentage points of turnover in that shorter period.
Planned next steps include a FY26 budget position audit with department‑level reviews, launching a countywide climate assessment (a people‑opinion survey followed by a pulse survey about six months later), continued exit interviews, and reporting back to council. Participation in the surveys and exit interviews will be optional and anonymous; results will be analyzed by the workforce development manager, Amber Black, and turned into a prioritized action plan.
Committee members asked about the frequency of new‑hire orientations (Mead said they occur weekly) and the logistics of onboarding large numbers of hires; Mead said the HR team can onboard up to 12 new hires at a time and will hold additional sessions when needed. She said vacancy and turnover reports will include departmental FTE counts on request.
