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HHS says office space is fuller than expected; county seeks clarification on "40%" cost-sharing figure
Summary
Human Services staff told the board their space needs and revenue-sharing arrangements appear to leave little spare room; staff will provide client counts and revenue figures after board members questioned a cited "40%" contribution figure that did not match county records.
During the facilities review portion of the meeting, staff from the county's Human Services (HHS) office told supervisors the local HHS office is fuller than previously understood and that consolidation or mergers discussed elsewhere would not free up usable office space.
HHS staff said they would provide counts of clients and revenue figures for recent years so the board could re-examine inter-county cost-sharing. At one point a speaker said HHS pays "40% of the county attorney wages" to represent HHS; county staff responded that the 40% description appeared inconsistent with the budget records and said they would verify what the 40% figure represented (for example, whether it applied to particular indirect expenses rather than a straight share of wages).
Supervisors noted that HHS offices in other counties maintain satellite locations and that a historical agreement (dating to the 1990s) may need review. The county will request documentation from HHS staff showing revenue and client numbers and a line-item explanation of any attorney-cost allocation so the board can consider whether adjustments to cost-sharing or space allocations are necessary.
What happens next: HHS staff will send the board the requested client and revenue numbers and clarify how the 40% figure was calculated; the board said it would revisit space and funding allocation decisions after receiving that documentation.
