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DCYF: collective‑bargaining pay increases funded; agency to cut 60 positions amid budget tightening
Summary
DCYF said the Legislature funded a 3% salary increase July 1 and a 2% increase in July 2026 for employees, but the agency must eliminate 60 positions as part of administrative efficiencies and budget reductions; 35 of those positions were vacant.
DCYF said on May 14 that the conference budget funds collective bargaining pay increases for agency employees but requires staff reductions and administrative efficiencies.
The personnel changes matter because they will affect DCYF operations and some employees directly: Renee Newkirk said employees will receive a 3% salary increase effective July 1, 2025, followed by a 2% increase effective July 1, 2026, and that targeted classification adjustments were also funded. At the same time, DCYF said the agency must eliminate 60 positions in total; 35 of those positions were vacant and 25 were filled positions for which employees had been notified that their positions were eliminated.
Agency officials specified that the administrative efficiencies category primarily affects executive and administrative management positions rather than frontline direct‑service staff. Newkirk and Lisonbee said the department is working through the personnel process and supporting affected employees while it finalizes implementation steps.
Ending: DCYF asked for patience as staffing changes are implemented and noted that service‑level impacts will depend on subsequent implementation decisions and contract adjustments.
