Commissioners have not yet publicly discussed next year\u2019s budget. They usually debate it in August and approve it in September. But KERA News obtained a termination letter sent to a Department of Human Services worker that\u2019s dated June 25.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis memo serves as formal notification that your position with Tarrant County will no longer be funded as of September 30, 2025,\u201d the memo reads. \u201cConsequently, your employment with Tarrant County will end at the close of business on September 30, 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n
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This letter, obtained by KERA News, advised a Tarrant County Department of Human Services employee they would no longer be employed by September 30, even though county commissioners have not yet voted to eliminate the department. The department offers rent and utility assistance to people in financial crisis, as well as vouchers for personal hygiene supplies.<\/p>\n
The county\u2019s current fiscal year \u2014 which budgeted about $4 million for the department \u2014\u00a0ends September 30<\/a>. Tarrant County did not respond to an email asking how many employees would be affected, but the department had 25 employees under Lisa Martin, the director who retired in May, she told KERA News last week.<\/p>\n Now, Tarrant County is calling the layoff notice a miscommunication. KERA News obtained a follow-up email to Human Services employees on Monday \u2014 sent minutes after the initial publication of this story \u2014 apologizing for the memo.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon review, it has come to our attention that the June 25th letter was issued in error and may have led to misunderstandings,\u201d Tarrant County Human Resources Director Roxie Held wrote. \u201cWhile staff have been actively exploring and discussing alternative proposals concerning the department\u2019s operations and structure, it is important to note that no final decisions have been made by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court.\u201d<\/p>\n A Tarrant County spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from KERA News, asking why employees were notified of their termination before any vote on eliminating their department.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognize and regret the confusion this premature communication may have caused. Please accept our sincere apologies for the miscommunication,\u201d Held wrote. \u201cWe will ensure that all future updates are communicated accurately and through appropriate channels.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic County Commissioner Alisa Simmons announced the layoffs\u00a0in a TikTok<\/a>\u00a0posted June 22.<\/p>\n In the 2024 fiscal year, the Department of Human Services gave out 350 rent vouchers, almost 4,600 utility assistance vouchers, and 1,000 food and hygiene vouchers,\u00a0according to county records.<\/a><\/p>\n The department\u2019s website was not accepting new requests for service as of Monday morning.<\/p>\n The county could provide financial aid services more effectively by partnering with local nonprofits, Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez\u00a0told KERA News<\/a>\u00a0last week.<\/p>\n \u201cThe expectation is that there will be zero service impact,\u201d Ramirez said. \u201cIf anything, service will improve from shifting to this model.\u201d<\/p>\n The cost of running the department outweighs the aid dollars the department gives out, he said. According to Ramirez, the county distributed about $1 million in aid in fiscal year 2024, with personnel costs of about $2.5 million.<\/p>\n Mary Almendarez, who helped lead the Department of Human Services until her retirement in 2014, said that\u2019s not a fair comparison. Employees do more than disburse aid. They also work with clients to figure out if they\u2019re eligible and create case plans for them, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll that is not counted towards the amount of assistance that Tarrant County spends,\u201d she said. \u201cAll that time is reflected in personnel time, and I don\u2019t believe Commissioner Ramirez is seeing that.\u201d<\/p>\n Nonprofits usually focus on a single region or population, so it will be hard to find a replacement for the countywide Department of Human Services, Almendarez said. To her, employees should have been given the chance to fix any problems commissioners have with the agency.<\/p>\n The Department of Human Services isn\u2019t the only county agency facing layoffs this year. Tarrant County Public Health\u00a0laid off 63 people<\/a>\u00a0after four programs lost federal grant funding.<\/p>\n This story has been updated with the email from Tarrant County Human Resources Director Roxie Held.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/KERA-Tarrant-County-commissioners.png\")
Bishop Mark Kirkland of Greater St. Mark Ministries in Fort Worth addresses Tarrant County commissioners on Tues., May 20, 2025. Commissioners are in charge of the county budget and may vote to eliminate the county agency that gives out rental aid. (Dylan Duke | KERA)<\/p>\n
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