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DSS employees tell commissioners staffing crisis is driving turnover and urge pay increases
Summary
Multiple Department of Social Services employees and supervisors told the board they face severe staffing shortages, higher health-care costs and regional pay disparities; speakers warned that continued turnover increases county liability and undermines service delivery.
Several Department of Social Services employees used the public hearing to urge the commissioners to include a cost-of-living increase for county staff. "The last time that we've had a cost of living increase was 2,019," said Crystal Henderson, a county DSS employee, who added that health care premiums for employees rose sharply this year and that the department has significant vacancies and recent turnover.
Casey Pewitt, the child welfare program manager, described operational and compliance risks from understaffing: she said the agency has 10 vacancies in child welfare and that 13 employees left since January, leaving many positions staffed by workers with under two years' experience. "We are approaching a critical threshold where further budget restrictions and lack of increases will introduce significant compliance, operational, safety, and financial risk," Pewitt said. Multiple speakers urged a targeted pay remedy to retain institutional knowledge and protect vulnerable clients.
Speakers repeatedly compared pay and benefits in neighboring counties, arguing that local wage gaps drive departures and increase recruiting costs. Commissioners responded by agreeing to a DSS-targeted 5% COLA while deferring a countywide COLA pending fund-balance review.
