The Children’s Services Council of Leon County Executive Director Ceka Rose Green, asked for $819,000 to fund 7 positions, 3 of them are new. Other contract-based positions were not included in that amount.
Last month, the board allowed only 1 new hire. Monday, instead of granting the 800k request, the board set aside about $294,000 for contracted services, including legal and accounting. That meeting was supposed to include a conversation about setting aside a percentage of funding for Green’s operating budget. The switch in discussion caught CSC chair Dr. Zandra Glenn by surprise.
"It was my understanding that we were going to decide what we think is a reasonable percentage," said Glenn. "Wherever we land on, the amount of dollars that are coming in; that’s what she[Ms. Green] has to play with to be able to manage the staff."
Budget discussions for the start of next fiscal year will begin in May. Green says she plans to bring her staffing plan back to the board.