A plan to eliminate 23 positions in Tarrant County’s Human Services Department marks a shift ahead of the county’s budget hearings.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Tarrant County is considering a sweeping budget change that would eliminate its Human Services Department entirely, transferring its work to nonprofit or private organizations, sources tell WFAA.
The proposal comes ahead of the county’s budget hearings next month.
The Human Services Department, which currently operates with a roughly $4 million budget, would cease operations by Sept. 30 under the recommendation from the county budget office, Tarrant County Commissioner Simmons told WFAA.
Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez said the potential shift is aimed at reducing overhead and improving efficiency in delivering aid.
A county spokesperson confirmed the total number of impacted employees is 23.
According to Simmons, the proposed cuts would eliminate the entire department.
Human Services staff were verbally notified in early July that their jobs would be eliminated, Simmons told WFAA.
“They were at work when HR came in, and they were told their jobs would be gone by the end of the fiscal year,” Simmons said.
Simmons has raised concerns about the lack of transparency behind the decision and a transition plan.
“There needs to be a strategic review before you gut an entire department that’s been around for decades,” Simmons said.
The Human Services Department, which is not mandated by state statute at the county level, has provided rental, utility, and basic needs assistance to residents in need. According to the county’s FY2024 data, the department distributed just over $1 million in direct aid while incurring nearly $2.5 million in personnel costs, which has led to concerns about spending efficiency. The county’s budget summary shows that for the 2025 fiscal year, the Department of Human Services is working with a budget of roughly $4 million.
Commissioner Manny Ramirez defended the idea of shuttering the department.
“When administrative costs outpace direct aid by more than double, we must ask hard questions and make difficult but necessary adjustments,” Ramirez said in a statement. “This shift isn’t about reducing services, it’s about improving them.”
As part of the proposed transition, the county would allocate roughly $2 million as a grant to partner organizations providing human services,” Simmons said.
“The expectation is that there will be zero service impact. In fact, we expect service will improve by shifting to this model.” Ramirez said. “By partnering with experienced nonprofit organizations that operate with lower overhead and strong community connections, we believe we can expand our reach, reduce duplication, and deliver help faster to those in need.”
It’s still unclear what will happen to the current Human Services building.
All potentially impacted employees were given 90 days’ notice and were encouraged to apply for other positions within the county, according to Ramirez.
“Ultimately, this is about aligning compassion with fiscal responsibility,” Ramirez said. “When we steward resources effectively, we serve more people, more fairly and that’s a goal we all share.”
Tarrant County’s first budget hearing is in August, with a final vote expected in September.
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