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Legislators press Department of the Family on staffing, phones and PAN recoveries during budget hearing
Summary
During a May 7 House Finance hearing, Department of the Family Secretary Susan Roy presented a $3.826 billion consolidated budget and faced sustained questioning about social‑worker vacancies, delayed procurement of phones for front‑line staff and efforts to recover PAN overpayments. The commission required procurement records from ASG/ACG within five days.
The House Finance Commission on May 7 questioned Department of the Family leaders about whether the agency’s staffing and procurement plans match its public commitments as the department seeks approval of a consolidated FY2026–27 budget of $3,825,724,000.
Secretary Susan Roy told the commission the recommended consolidated budget totals $3,825,724,000, of which roughly 11% is general‑fund and 89% federal money, and walked members through line‑item allocations for the secretariat and each administration. She said the federal portion primarily funds the nutrition assistance program (PAN), child‑protection services and early‑childhood programs such as Head Start.
The hearing focused quickly on workforce capacity. Members pressed for precise staffing numbers and targets after multiple high‑profile child‑safety incidents were reported in the press and discussed during the hearing. Roy confirmed the department currently records 851 social‑work positions across its…
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