JACKSON - The Department of Human Services' request for an extra $16.1 million in state money is fueled, in part, by the agency's desire to fill vacant positions, especially for social workers.
The general fund request for next year is 22 percent higher than what the agency is receiving in the current budget year that started July 1.
DHS executive director Don Taylor said the agency has 254 filled social worker positions and 28 vacancies. The whole agency has 3,148 workers and 335 vacant jobs.
Taylor says he believes the difficulty in hiring more social workers is tied to the pay and heavy caseload. Mississippi pays an average of $30,000 to $32,000 annually, which DHS officials say is in line with surrounding states.
Taylor told members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Thursday that so far the agency has not "lost a child" due to the negligence of social workers, but "we are at great risk."
Taylor said the goal is an average of 40 cases per social worker. He didn't know the current average caseload. He said the highest caseload is in Copiah County, where the average social worker handles 129 cases.
The agency's overall $324 million budget increase includes general funds and special funds. The agency was appropriated $74.5 million in general funds this fiscal year. The request for 2006 is $90.6 million.
Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, said he is worried about the social worker shortage and suggested the agency offer incentives, such as scholarships.
Taylor agreed incentives should be considered.
"It may be because of the nature of their work we need to pay them more," Taylor said.
Taylor said the agency already is paying a travel stipend to students who are supposed to eventually work for DHS, but the program hasn't worked well. He said $1.3 million a year over the past two years had been spent on the program, but the agency had hired only seven social workers.
"We're going to fix that. If you're going take our money, then you're going to come and work for me or you're going to pay that money back," Taylor said.
Some lawmakers complained that $1.1 million provided for social worker pay raises in fiscal year 2003 and 2004 wasn't used for its intended purpose.
Lawmakers said the money was intended for areas such as Harrison County on the coast, but much of it was used in Hinds and Madison counties in central Mississippi, where the need wasn't as great.
Rep. Diane Peranich, D-Pass Christian, said the money was "frittered away."
Taylor told lawmakers he hopes the agency wouldn't ask for a deficit request, but it would be hard to make that determination now.
He said DHS may have to repay $2 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds that were used for projects that have come under scrutiny. Taylor said the agency is trying to recoup the funds.
Taylor said DHS is making every effort to fill positions identified in the Justice Department's complaint against the state's training schools. Taylor said a principal recently was hired at Columbia Training School in Columbia. The other training school, Oakley, is in Raymond.
Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, said he wouldn't ask questions about the training schools because he plans to unveil legislation Tuesday that seeks to overhaul the state's juvenile justice system.
Flaggs said he had talked to Taylor about the bill.
"He has not committed to where I'm going, but he at least started riding with me," Flaggs said.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
