Richland County HHS reviews staffing shortages, budget status and opioid-settlement grant planning; sets July 3 public hearing

The Richland County Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee on an administrative agenda discussed staff vacancies, contract-monitoring changes driven by state policy, current budget utilization, and plans for distributing opioid-settlement funds, and set a public hearing on the 2026 budget for July 3 at 5 p.m.

The discussion matters because staffing gaps and shifting contract rules affect the county’s ability to deliver behavioral-health and placement services, while budget and opioid-settlement decisions determine near-term program funding and community grants.

HHS leadership reported several active vacancies that the agency is trying to fill. The HHS Director said the county has been without a mental health therapist for about a month and that the state granted an extension to fill that position until October. The director also said the HHS financial manager position remains vacant and that managers have begun reviewing line items and grant budgets for the 2026 planning cycle.

On contracts and service provision, staff explained the state has changed how Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) providers are engaged: counties no longer execute one-on-one contracts with certain CLTS providers. Instead, counties select providers from a state-maintained portal and rely on statewide qualification and oversight. A committee member asked whether the county is still doing background checks and other oversight; staff responded that those checks and administrative oversight are maintained by the state portal rather than by the county.

The committee reviewed the expenditures and budget summary through April. Staff reported the overall county budget utilization stood at about 29% (the benchmark is roughly 33% at this point in the year). The HHS Director noted a misallocation affecting payroll posting to the adult protective services account; staff plan a journal-entry correction to move payroll to the proper account. The placement fund for adult placements was reported at 25% utilization; child-placement utilization was reported at about 36% and the director noted recent reunifications should reduce high-cost placements going forward. The director said the “core budget balance,” after anticipated revenue was applied, was approximately $115,000.

Staff also reported a one-time payment of roughly $383,867 to a vendor described as providing ‘‘smart net’’ insurance for network switches; that payment was listed on the expenditures report as a renewal of network-support insurance. (Amount and vendor names are reported from the expenditures packet.)

On opioid-settlement funds, staff said the county has been using settlement money for programs such as TAC and that a new grant cycle for those funds will be opened; staff expect another grant round in roughly six months. The director said the county recently received additional opioid-settlement funds but did not provide a clear dollar figure during the meeting.

Organizational updates included an amended HHS org chart: the HHS Director role was confirmed, a business/financial services manager position is vacant, and the child-and-youth services unit now lists Britney Wirtz as child and youth services manager. Staff said they added Jay Batten as a casual nutrition driver.

The committee also discussed countywide budget planning for 2026. Staff are gathering capital-improvement requests and waiting for a directive from the county administrator about countywide expectations. Managers were asked to review their lines and any grant budgets (including CST/coordinated services team, TAD, SOAR, and other grants) for potential adjustments. HHS staff said they will bring grant approvals to a future meeting if required.

Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting agenda — motion and second not specified; outcome: approved by voice vote (ayes). - Approval of minutes from the May meeting — no changes; outcome: approved by voice vote (ayes). - Set July 3 public hearing on the 2026 budget at 5 p.m. — committee consensus recorded; outcome: approved (date/time set). - Adjournment to July 3 at 5 p.m. — mover not specified; seconded by Francis; outcome: approved by voice vote (ayes).

Discussion versus action: most items on the agenda were informational or directive (staff asked to prepare budget and grant materials). The committee formally set the public hearing date and approved routine procedural items; no new ordinances, contracts, or appropriations were adopted at this meeting.

The meeting closed with the committee continuing HHS budget-planning discussions to future agendas and noting several personnel vacancies that will affect service capacity in behavioral health and financial administration.