Social services gets approval to hire worker

The department's director had sought to add two full-time employees to deal with a heavier workload.

By JENNIFER FARRELL

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 23, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- County Social Services Director Jean Rags made a plea Tuesday to commissioners for more help in her harried two-person department, citing increased demand for services and a heavier administrative workload.

And while the board granted part of her request, Rags will have to make her case again soon if she wants more help.

Asked to add two full-time staffers, the board voted 4-1 to hire one person now, then consider further requests as part of the normal budget process.

Commission Chairman Chris Kingsley cast the lone "no" vote, saying the timing is wrong. He acknowledged Rags' need to address the staffing crunch but said it is bad practice for county officials to approve new jobs outside normal budget talks.

"It's the same as an unfunded mandate as far as I'm concerned," Kingsley said.

Other commissioners said the matter can't wait until September, when commissioners will complete a spending plan for next year.

"Sometimes the need is greater than the timing," Commissioner Nancy Robinson said. "I think it's a need . . . that needs to be met earlier than budget time."

Rags appeared before the commission in January and outlined her department's responsibilities during a three-hour workshop. The department provides assistance to dozens of non-profit organizations and thousands of residents. It also manages Community Development Block Grants, a prescription program and needs assessments for the Health Department, among several other projects.

Rags averages working about 65 hours a week, and that's just for things that cross her desk and time spent serving on a variety of committees and coalitions. Her list of pending projects is lengthy.

Two beleaguered employees in a one-room office can't handle the load, Rags said.

Exacerbating the problem was the county's recent struggle with departing HMOs, said Commissioner Diane Rowden. Thousands of people called the office looking for answers, Rowden said, and the small department could not keep up.

This year, Social Services has a $1.6-million budget; $96,647 goes toward salaries, benefits and equipment. The rest goes into programs for the community.

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