Rutherford County Commissioners Address DSS Staffing and Budget Priorities

Rutherford County commissioners were confronted Monday night with urgent warnings from Department of Social Services employees who said chronic staffing shortages and heavy caseloads are jeopardizing child welfare, even as the board advanced routine financial business and formally accepted the county manager’s departure following a closed session.

During public comment, DSS social workers and supervisors described a department stretched thin after what they characterized as a mass exodus of employees. Workers said foster care caseloads routinely exceed state standards, with some carrying 30 or more cases when guidance calls for roughly half that number. Speakers told commissioners the county is responsible for more than 200 children in care, many of whom are placed outside Rutherford County, requiring long-distance travel and late-night supervision by already overburdened staff.

Employees attributed turnover to lower pay compared with neighboring counties and state-contracted positions, mandatory after-hours and on-call work, and the cumulative stress of child welfare duties. Several asked commissioners to consider retention bonuses, salary adjustments within state pay ranges and creative solutions such as county-supported child care to help stabilize the workforce. DSS leadership told the board it would be open to a consolidated services model if the county chose to pursue that option.

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and noted that while the state establishes salary ranges, counties ultimately set employee pay. The board did not take immediate action on compensation but indicated the issues would factor into upcoming budget discussions.

Beyond the public comment period, the board approved a series of routine items. Commissioners recognized county finance staff after Rutherford County received its 36th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The board also filled multiple vacancies on local boards and commissions, including planning, farmland preservation and equalization boards, and appointed plat review officers for local jurisdictions.

Several budget amendments were approved, including carry-forward donations and restricted funds for programs such as Shop with a Cop and the Pink Patch Project, inmate education at the detention center, library audiovisual equipment, disaster-related funding for DSS, AEDs for the sheriff’s road patrol and tourism-related grants tied to FEMA reimbursements. Commissioners also approved the county’s 2026–27 budget calendar, setting the framework for departmental requests, spring workshops and adoption of a balanced budget by June 30.

The meeting concluded with a significant personnel action. After returning from closed session, commissioners voted to acknowledge receipt of written notice to terminate Steve Garrison, the county manager’s employment agreement, without cause, and to waive a contractual requirement for 120 days’ advance notice. The effective date of the termination is set for Feb. 3. Commissioners said Garrison first notified them on Dec. 5 of his planned exit.

As Rutherford County enters a new budget cycle and prepares for a change in top administrative leadership, the concerns raised by DSS employees placed renewed focus on recruitment, retention and funding for child welfare services—issues likely to resurface as commissioners weigh priorities in the months ahead.

Read the agenda documents here and watch the meeting here.