Cochise County HR presents budget details on background checks, counseling and applicant system

Cochise County human resources staff reviewed key line items in the department's operating budget during a county meeting, detailing costs for background screenings, traumatic-event counseling for public-safety employees, the NEOGOV applicant-tracking system and unemployment-administration services. The presentation included specific usage figures and a proposal to continue current vendor contracts; the board did not take formal votes on those items during the session.

The discussion matters because those line items fund routine hiring protections, statutorily required counseling for law enforcement and detention staff, and systems that handle sensitive employee data. Changes to the budget or to intergovernmental agreements for court-related HR services could affect county payroll operations and the courts' personnel administration.

Human resources staff said professional services is one of the largest non-wage budget lines and proposed continuing a $35,000 allocation that covers background screenings, traumatic-event counseling for law enforcement and related vendor services. "Our motto is making the county better," the HR presenter said, describing the department's…