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Cayuga County DSS reports vacancies, rising high-cost foster and emergency housing expenses
Summary
Department of Social Services officials told the Ways and Means Committee that staffing vacancies are driving overtime and could slow casework, while mandated safety-net and foster-care placements remain the largest risk to the 2025 county budget due to limited state reimbursement and lagging claim timing.
Department of Social Services staff told the county’s Ways and Means Committee on April 9 that staffing vacancies and mandated, high-cost placements are the largest near-term risks to the county’s 2025 operating budget.
DSS presented a first-quarter budget snapshot showing full-time salary spending about 18% below budget through March because of multiple vacant caseworker and accounting positions, but overtime is higher than expected as remaining staff cover work. Staff said the vacancies have increased caseloads and that higher overtime is concentrated in services units covering adult protective services, child protective services, foster care and preventive services.
The presentation highlighted two mandated program areas with the highest risk of exceeding budget: safety net (emergency housing) and foster care. Safety-net payments are reimbursed at roughly 29% by state sources, meaning the county carries most of the cost for hotel and…
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