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DSS director says she will fill key vacancies; board weighs restoring positions and budget impact
Summary
Director White said she will advertise to fill several DSS positions and prioritize a program-integrity investigator; commissioners debated funding lapses and estimated filling certain positions would cost about $195,000 versus $416,000 if all vacant roles were restored.
During a lengthy exchange about Department of Social Services staffing, the board asked Director White whether she intended to fill positions previously lapsed under the prior administration. Addressing the board from a virtual connection, Director White said, "I do anticipate filling... Actually I just had an interview this morning and I got one at one o'clock," and described plans to recruit for program integrity and other roles she considers critical.
Commissioners pressed on the budget impact. Staff tallied that filling the four positions discussed this month would cost approximately $195,000, while restoring all previously lapsed positions could approach $416,000 depending on which roles are refilled. Director White described some vacancies she will not fill immediately and said she plans hiring timelines to preserve institutional knowledge: "I'm looking to fill that position prior to her retiring so that a person can get trained in that area prior to her leaving." Commissioners asked staff to reconcile HR sheets and return with exact position titles, pay grades and timing before making final appropriations.
The board did not take a binding vote but directed staff to provide a reconciled HR/position-cost worksheet so they can balance staffing needs with the broader budget objective of providing raises and controlling benefit costs.
