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Commissioners praise youth employment program; staff say funding limits hires despite rising applicants
Summary
Liberty County commissioners heard a youth‑services update: the 2026 summer employment program served 29 youth and the Youth Commission grew 41% since 2024. Staff and commissioners said more county funding is needed to close the gap between applicants and hires.
The Board of Commissioners recognized participants in the county’s summer youth employment program and received a report on program outcomes and demographics.
Larry Murray, the county youth coordinator, presented certificates for interns and praised partner agencies and mentors. "We were able to serve 29 youth, and we had new initiatives," Murray said, adding the program expanded leadership and business partnerships.
LaMisha Hunter (speaker 18) summarized the program statistics and said the Youth Commission grew 41% from 2024 to 2026, with upper‑classmen representing a majority of participants. Commissioners highlighted a repeated pattern: applicants outpace available internship slots. One commissioner cited annual figures (2024: 35 applicants/23 hires; 2025: 62/27; 2026: 74/29) and asked how to narrow the gap.
Commissioners discussed regional collaboration with nearby cities and counties and concluded that the primary constraint to hiring more interns is financial. "That's the only way we're gonna be able to hire," a commissioner said in reference to county funding. The board asked staff to explore partnerships and options for targeted funding in future budgets. No formal funding decision was made at the meeting.
