Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board of Finance approves full‑time outreach social worker starting Jan. 1, 2026
Summary
After hearing program results and debate over short‑term funding, the Madison Board of Finance voted to convert a part‑time outreach social worker to full‑time beginning Jan. 1, 2026; the board noted an estimated $7,000 current‑year delta and anticipated grant funds to offset next year’s costs.
The Madison Board of Finance voted to make the town’s outreach social worker a full‑time position effective Jan. 1, 2026, after members heard program outcomes and debated funding sources.
Kathy McGrady, chair of the Madison Youth and Family Services Board, spoke during public comment in support of the change, saying, “On behalf of the entire Madison Youth and Family Services board, I want to express our wholehearted support for establishing a full‑time outreach social worker position for our town.” Supporters said a permanent, full‑time role would provide stability, continuity and capacity to meet growing community needs.
Police and program leaders described operational benefits. The chief said the social worker has handled more than 180 cases to date, reducing repeated police responses to the same households and freeing officers for other duties. Board members cited that caseload and the worker’s local knowledge as reasons to act before the next budget cycle.
The board debated timing and cost. Staff estimated the immediate fiscal‑year difference to be about $7,000 (which the town said includes payroll taxes but does not quantify potential self‑insured health‑claim costs). Members noted remaining grant funds — roughly $25,000 anticipated if an extension is approved — and proposed using unspent labor dollars in the police budget to cover the near‑term gap. Stacy, a town finance staffer, described the grant modification and extension process to apply remaining grant dollars into the next fiscal year.
A motion to approve the full‑time social worker, with additional funding for the current year to come from a specified PDS line item, passed by voice vote. The chair declared the motion carried.
Next steps: the town will implement the position change effective Jan. 1, 2026, and staff indicated they will pursue a grant budget modification/extension and report back on exact budget adjustments.
