State says no to local DFCS employee stipend

The state Department of Family and Children Services has blocked a locally-funded stipend proposed by the Madison County DFCS board.

But the local board isn’t giving up just yet.

It has called a meeting today (Thursday) at 5 p.m. to discuss rewording the stipend for its director and social services workers in hopes of giving those employees a little extra cash.

The DFCS board wants to pay director Lisa Plank an additional $100 a month and seven social services workers $50 a month to compensate partially for lost income due to state cuts.

Plank and the social service staff have been forced to take furlough days each month under the state’s tightening budget.

But the state said any extra money should go toward the department with the highest turnover rate, the Office of Family Independence (OFI), though it hasn’t been subjected to furloughs.

The state’s rejection puzzled and vexed board chairman Gary Locke because county money, not state dollars, would fund these stipends.

“That ticks me off – them getting into our business,” he said.

The state would allow some form of director and social service stipends, but only if made available to OFI as well.
The all-or-none philosophy didn’t sit well with Locke, either.

“It’s like the ultra-liberal concept that if everybody can’t have it, no one can have it,” Locke said.

With supplement money included, the board proposes a $33,500 budget. The DFCS board will present the proposed spending plan to the board of commissioners at 6 p.m. today (Thursday).

In addition to supplements, the local DFCS office proposes a larger budget this year to meet the rising demands of foster care.

DFCS BOARD HAS OPENING

Chairman Gary Locke will resign his post in June, leaving an opening at the DFCS board table.

Locke, who made his decision public last month, has not found a successor.

Board members indicated they’d ask around to determine interest in Locke’s seat.

“We don’t need joiners,” Locke said. “We need workers. Some people accept this because they think it will look good on résumé … We need dedicated people.”

Shelia Collins’ term is also ending, but she plans to serve another term on the board.