The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 1 approved the second phase of a countywide compensation study and immediate staffing and retention steps for the county Department of Social Services (DSS), citing high caseloads and urgent operational strain.

Assistant County Manager Derek Southern and county staff presenter Olivia told the board the second phase covered about 170 job titles (roughly 300 filled positions) and combined a market study with a service-recognition component. "We studied about 170 titles or about 300 filled positions," Olivia said in presenting the review. The full fiscal-year cost of the Phase 2 changes was presented as roughly $1,200,000; staff said the FY26 partial-year cost would be about $604,000, with an estimated county share of $162,000 after a projected 50% state reimbursement for some DSS positions.

Beyond pay-grade and recognition adjustments, commissioners were asked to approve operational steps targeted at immediate staffing gaps in child protective services: hourly/overtime pay for supervisors and program managers who cover front-line caseloads above 50 hours per week, adding two social workers, two social-service technicians to provide transportation/field support, and one administrative position to handle paperwork and front-office duties. "We're also requesting that 2 social workers be added," Derek Southern said during the presentation, noting supervisors were currently carrying caseloads.

Commissioners said the requested mix was intended to reduce caseloads toward a benchmark of roughly 10 cases per worker where practicable; the presenter said current averages were about 15.7 cases per worker and that some foster children must travel long distances for court-ordered visits, increasing workload.

Commissioner Hall moved to adopt the Phase 2 market-study recommendations, retention adjustments, and the updated salary/pay plan and to approve the recommended DSS staff additions and overtime authority; the motion was seconded and carried with affirmative votes recorded. The meeting record includes the motion text authorizing implementation and giving the county manager discretion to make minor corrections during rollout. The transcript records an "Aye" vote and that motion "carries," but does not include a roll-call tally in the public minutes.

What happens next: staff said detailed implementation numbers and a formal budget amendment would be presented during the upcoming budgeting cycle. Commissioners asked for periodic staffing updates during the budget process and for additional documentation about hiring timelines, reimbursement expectations and office space to host new positions.

Funding and limits: officials said some DSS positions can be reimbursed at roughly 50% by state funds, lowering the county’s annual net cost; staff also warned hiring and space constraints could slow implementation and pledged follow-up modeling at budget time.

The board’s action places short-term emphasis on retention and immediate operational relief rather than a permanent expansion without further budget review; staff said they would return to the board with implementation details and any needed budget ordinance changes.