Rutherford County commissioners vote to assume control of Department of Social Services

Rutherford County commissioners voted May 11, 2026, to adopt a resolution abolishing the Rutherford County Board of Social Services and transferring its powers, responsibilities and duties to the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners, the board said during a special public hearing at the county administration offices.

The resolution, read aloud at the meeting and citing North Carolina General Statutes 153A-76 and 153A-77A, states the transfer is effective in May 2026; the board noted a public notice was published in the Daily Courier on April 11, 2026. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by a commissioner and seconded by another commissioner; the measure was approved by raised hands with no roll-call tally recorded.

Why it matters: The change shifts direct oversight of county-run social services to elected commissioners, a move the board said is intended to tighten governance amid staff turnover and increased state auditing and program workload. Speakers at the public hearing warned the shift could affect service continuity for children, seniors and Medicaid recipients and urged clear safeguards.

During public comments, resident Daniel Brown described repeated child-protection episodes involving his grandchildren and questioned the reliability of the county’s drug tests, saying, "It has cost me $10,000 to keep those grandkids safe" and that he was told the tests "wouldn't hold up in court." Lynn Hoppus, a member of the county Board of Social Services, urged the commissioners to ensure competitive pay and resources so the department can retain skilled staff and suggested keeping the agency under the State Office of Personnel if possible: "We need this to maintain [a] stable, experienced workforce that can serve our community effectively." Dana Davis, who said she works for the department, warned consolidation in other counties "did not go well" and cautioned against turning the agency into a training ground that loses experienced employees.

Commissioners responded that the change aims to address staff shortages and financial liability tied to state audits. One commissioner pledged to publish a public letter outlining goals and how oversight might improve services. Commissioners clarified that the DSS director remains the agency’s chief executive, responsible for day-to-day operations and hiring, and said DSS funds would remain separate from the county general fund.

The text of the adopted resolution cites the statutory authority for the transfer and records that a public hearing on the matter was held May 11, 2026; it expresses the board’s appreciation to members of the former Board of Social Services and states the transfer is effective in May 2026. The meeting closed after the vote and a subsequent motion to adjourn.

Next steps: The board did not provide a roll-call vote or a published implementation plan at the hearing; commissioners said they would provide additional transparency and a public summary of goals and deliverables going forward.