The struggle session over healthcare cuts at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday was followed by an equally spirited discussion of cuts to the ranks of the Social Services department. Its employees make up 20 percent of the county's workforce, but the department finds it will be $4.6 million short of its projected budget amount this year.
The agency is a critical one that provides eligibility and case worker support for family welfare, foster children, adoption placements, child safety, protective services, medical coverage, food assistance, and many other essential services.
Director Dan Nielson explained how revenues had decreased within the complicated structure of federal and state funding that underwrites some but not all of his department. His suggestion to make up the department’s deficit was to lay off 121 positions. Among those were 56 that were already vacant, leaving 65 employees who would lose their jobs.