Lubbock County general assistance director warns welfare funds near exhaustion as demand for cremations and utility help rises

Diana Garel Caputo, director of Lubbock County’s general assistance department, told the Commissioners Court during a June work session that demand for utilities assistance and cremations has risen sharply this year and the department expects to run out of its current welfare funds before fiscal year end without a transfer.

Caputo reviewed the office’s history and operations — noting the department formerly handled burials and USDA food distribution, and now primarily provides limited rent and utilities assistance and handles indigent cremations. She said the office currently has four full‑time employees and is booked every 30 minutes on busy days.

“I'm not sure what you want me to do. I mean, we can … visit the, you know, everything in your processes,” Caputo said when commissioners queried ways to reduce workload. She described intake as an interview‑intensive, in‑person process that includes eligibility screening and referrals to other agencies for longer‑term help. Staff also serve as the department’s appeals officer.

Caputo said cremations are increasing: the office was at 96 cremations so far this year at the time of the presentation and averages roughly 10 cremations a month. By comparison, the office recorded 117 cremations for the full prior year. She said the cremation line item budget remains sufficient for the immediate need but that overall welfare funding is stretched: “We’re about to run out of money here,” she told the court and said she has a line‑item transfer prepared for the July court date.

On utility assistance, Caputo described several pressures: customers facing higher bills after changes in local utility providers, new deposit requirements (she cited examples of reconnection and deposit fees that increase total household outlays), and landlords and vendors that are slower to process vendor paperwork. She said the department pays the current portion of utility bills (typically up to a preset cap; Caputo cited a typical assistance amount of $150 toward current charges) and does not pay reconnection deposits.

Commissioners questioned the department’s cost structure. Commissioner Corley said staff costs are notable relative to direct assistance: Caputo’s budget data showed about $312,000 in personnel costs to administer an expected roughly $143,000 in welfare disbursements across multiple sub‑line items (utilities, shelter, funerals, food). Caputo said the workload includes casework, in‑person interviews, appeals and significant follow‑up; she defended the office’s role in coordinating applicants with other benefit programs (SNAP, TANF, SSI) and sending referrals to partner agencies that hold grant funds.

Caputo noted temporary facility constraints: the office moved to a smaller space on the second floor after a December 2022 flood and would like to return to a remodeled first‑floor location; she also asked that any remodel include basic amenities the office lacks now, such as a sink. She said the office uses the county jury room and other county spaces for overflow and that training and heavy foot traffic create wear on building systems.

On staffing Caputo confirmed the office has four full‑time employees and asked the court to clarify an apparent carryover part‑time line in the budget. Court staff agreed the part‑time funding line was an oversight and directed it to be removed while retaining the existing full‑time staffing structure.

Caputo closed by asking the court to consider the department’s constrained welfare budget and the growing caseload as commissioners finalize the county budget.