Board approves staffing reallocations for Sheriff's corrections fiscal support and Social Services finance

Two separate personnel proposals were approved by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7, reallocating existing funded positions to meet fiscal and program needs in the Sheriff's Office and the Department of Social Services.

Sheriff's Office: Raquel Al, administrative manager for the Sheriff's fiscal unit, asked the board to delete and unfund one vacant Account Clerk III and to add and fund one Administrative Analyst in the Corrections Division. Staff estimated the pro-rated cost for the remainder of fiscal year 2024-25 at about $6,206 and a full fiscal-year cost near $94,902. The sheriff's office plans to fund the difference from a law enforcement special revenue account and argued the analyst is needed to meet the demands of 24/7 corrections operations and to improve fiscal oversight across roughly 44 active accounts and multiple contracts and grants. The board approved the request.

Department of Social Services: Director Paul Lianas and Deputy Laura Carrillo presented a request to delete six vacant Account Clerk III positions and add two Staff Services Analyst (SSA) fiscal positions and three Accounting Technician positions to strengthen fiscal oversight after statewide system transitions and increased fiscal complexity. The department estimated the long-term annual cost increase at roughly $14,100 of county general fund after state and federal allocations and including a 5% projected merit increase; the department said there is no immediate net general-fund impact this fiscal year because the positions will be absorbed under the approved fiscal budget. Supervisors asked about sustainability in light of the countywide classification and compensation study; staff said the vendor (Gallagher) is coordinating with departments and the executive office to assess impacts and that departments with non-general-fund resources can proceed ahead while the study is finalized. The board approved the Social Services request.

Both items raised questions about long-term fiscal sustainability and the pending classification and compensation study. County staff said they will provide information to the compensation vendor and continue to monitor fiscal impacts.