[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6552810,"mediaKeyId","5091762-b3f4bdf7f01090ccfe18747daa31da71","parentId",5091762,"title","Lubbock County general assistance director warns welfare funds near exhaustion as demand for cremations and utility help rises","audioSeconds",1644,"startMs",2876000,"endMs",4520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091762-b3f4bdf7f01090ccfe18747daa31da71&start=2876&end=4520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091762-b3f4bdf7f01090ccfe18747daa31da71/thumbnail_2876000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552810/Lubbock-County/Texas/Lubbock-County-general-assistance-director-warns-welfare-funds-near-exhaustion-as-demand-for-cremations-and-utility-help-rises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552810-8123139af71cdd62c7859f3ad9ea3d0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500612&Signature=ACZDaLerlhoWy-3LFzX1hWuA5OgknGJ1h3r55sm64JFVhe3X3-4dQL2AytV-NpCIIQmt222BN4yoekJyMkZs2JeO24nb6R5ozmzFvncc6xzfiaB~7F1NqMA6WBbxnq7pezvVZU2XOf-HkGAPBXhkjmvW-mhvAiMGSoaI6aPksh49CeBmbTrgc-sPxhqY78RhIEKxUQ40E~JE8xc9h9YbgMZgT0I5WEwba0TAXCLBWNKTjn-f5zrNG9Sc5U4GnF1Em5iTHoeX9pwn~Ug0p4YV8DZqP5irmPyBgTr~UN0gqHvL69MMoQOb8B9DpqOq4Hq5BNor2loWKTJqoh8-8Td6rQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lubbock","date","2025-06-27T00:00:00Z","article","Diana Garel Caputo, director of Lubbock County’s general assistance department, told the Commissioners Court during a June work session that demand for utilities assistance and cremations has risen sharply this year and the department expects to run out of its current welfare funds before fiscal year end without a transfer.

Caputo reviewed the office’s history and operations — noting the department formerly handled burials and USDA food distribution, and now primarily provides limited rent and utilities assistance and handles indigent cremations. She said the office currently has four full‑time employees and is booked every 30 minutes on busy days.

“I'm not sure what you want me to do. I mean, we can … visit the, you know, everything in your processes,” Caputo said when commissioners queried ways to reduce workload. She described intake as an interview‑intensive, in‑person process that includes eligibility screening and referrals to other agencies for longer‑term help. Staff also serve as the department’s appeals officer.

Caputo said cremations are increasing: the office was at 96 cremations so far this year at the time of the presentation and averages roughly 10 cremations a month. By comparison, the office recorded 117 cremations for the full prior year. She said the cremation line item budget remains sufficient for the immediate need but that overall welfare funding is stretched: “We’re about to run out of money here,” she told the court and said she has a line‑item transfer prepared for the July court date.

On utility assistance, Caputo described several pressures: customers facing higher bills after changes in local utility providers, new deposit requirements (she cited examples of reconnection and deposit fees that increase total household outlays), and landlords and vendors that are slower to process vendor paperwork. She said the department pays the current portion of utility bills (typically up to a preset cap; Caputo cited a typical assistance amount of $150 toward current charges) and does not pay reconnection deposits.

Commissioners questioned the department’s cost structure. Commissioner Corley said staff costs are notable relative to direct assistance: Caputo’s budget data showed about $312,000 in personnel costs to administer an expected roughly $143,000 in welfare disbursements across multiple sub‑line items (utilities, shelter, funerals, food). Caputo said the workload includes casework, in‑person interviews, appeals and significant follow‑up; she defended the office’s role in coordinating applicants with other benefit programs (SNAP, TANF, SSI) and sending referrals to partner agencies that hold grant funds.

Caputo noted temporary facility constraints: the office moved to a smaller space on the second floor after a December 2022 flood and would like to return to a remodeled first‑floor location; she also asked that any remodel include basic amenities the office lacks now, such as a sink. She said the office uses the county jury room and other county spaces for overflow and that training and heavy foot traffic create wear on building systems.

On staffing Caputo confirmed the office has four full‑time employees and asked the court to clarify an apparent carryover part‑time line in the budget. Court staff agreed the part‑time funding line was an oversight and directed it to be removed while retaining the existing full‑time staffing structure.

Caputo closed by asking the court to consider the department’s constrained welfare budget and the growing caseload as commissioners finalize the county budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lubbock - Commissioners' Court Work Session - Jun 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Director Diana Garel Caputo told the commissioners court the general assistance office is seeing higher demand for utility assistance and cremations, will likely need a line‑item transfer to finish the fiscal year and requested clarity on a part‑time personnel line that has already been converted to full time.","taxTitle","Lubbock County, Texas","taxId",2711,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552814,"Lubbock County elections office outlines legislative changes, equipment and training needs ahead of 2026 cycle",2598,257000,2855000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5091762-b3f4bdf7f01090ccfe18747daa31da71&start=257&end=2855","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5091762-b3f4bdf7f01090ccfe18747daa31da71/thumbnail_257000.jpg","/articles/6552814/Lubbock-County/Texas/Lubbock-County-elections-office-outlines-legislative-changes-equipment-and-training-needs-ahead-of-2026-cycle","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552814-329e932d39900b27d17415871f8147c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500612&Signature=MkdkSvW7~JHlu5IljWjNhIkKmkDgNsSYWqezToTEbp3F-xvMfIucOShSSsql-PmHnBxReDH0Xnc2~d1sWSWtB7KYYh3DAF7hrBt7vulC0OsYF7l5q00N21a~Dydt2i044YDPc3PkkCHC6kvxtyedCXPet8VSaIi06G1SVXWYq57hCf35R43HHJmEi9btbVqiQNo0JjeQhiVsM1CTzX0gK8eTleEma9tWUdKdyWelwI~KJ0ux2myl8RrYR3GF03RdxNHmD6-EnbWiiXswh~10MXBL0N0ShiLwcspT9qj7ip5xNNFA5UUBSxb2uwG5hVb5606n8l6h8JICaK1Ud6LVLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roxine Stinson, an elections department staff member, told the Lubbock County Commissioners Court during a June work session that a wave of recent and pending state laws will change ballot forms, curbside voting signage and post‑election audit procedures and will affect the department’s budget and operations for 2026 and beyond.

Stinson said the department expects large-scale changes to mail‑ballot inserts, voter registration forms, provisional ballot affidavits and other printed materials because the new rules require larger font and revised wording. “They told us pretty much every form we have in our building is fixing to change,” Stinson said. She advised the court not to order new stock until the final language is released.

The department also described several bills by the identifiers used in the presentation. The transcript references: “House bill 521” (signage for curbside voting), “Senate bill 827” (post‑election audits), “Senate bill 1540” (staff and poll worker address protections), “House bill 3909” (cell‑phone use near polling places), “Senate bill 2753” (changes to election‑night reporting), and other numeric citations as noted in the department presentation. Stinson said the county will track the state’s forthcoming rule language and guidance closely and adjust operations as required.

Stinson described specific operational impacts: curbside voters will be required to sign an affidavit attesting they meet qualifications for curbside voting (without disclosing a disability), and counties will have to update curbside signage and designated curbside parking. She said new audit rules will require risk‑limiting audits plus location‑based manual counts starting in November 2026 and that counties will be required to post audit results on their websites.

The office is monitoring an executive order and related guidance for new voting‑system standards from the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Stinson warned that if new federal certification standards are enforced as drafted, some counties may need to change equipment. “Right now, this county is not affected because it says that the EAC … there is nobody in this country that has equipment that meets [the new] guidelines,” Stinson said, adding there are multiple lawsuits challenging the executive order.

On equipment and supplies, Stinson said the elections office rotates small memory devices (V‑drives) used to collect ballot results. She said the county had about 1,350 V‑drives in 2017, now has roughly 560, and budgeted to purchase 300 this year at about $66 apiece. She also reported the department has applied for a grant tied to Senate Bill 2217 (referenced in the presentation) to buy poll pads (iPads for poll books) and said she has a contingency plan to buy them from a contract account if the grant is not awarded.

Staffing, training and poll‑worker pay were raised as budget priorities. Stinson said poll‑worker pay is currently $13 and $15 per assignment and training compensation is $10; she recommended raising those rates ahead of heavier workloads anticipated under the new laws. Training needs are expected to increase because of multiple form and process changes; Stinson estimated classes will run 8–12 hours depending on the election and the office aims to keep classes at about 20 trainees each.

Stinson also flagged logistical needs: secure storage for blank mail‑ballot applications and envelopes (locked rooms rather than open access); additional training space (the county jury room is currently used but will be lost during a planned remodel); and anticipated overtime costs because some legislation would extend weekend and Sunday hours and eliminate the gap between early voting and election day. She said the department will coordinate with United Supermarkets (an organizing partner for curbside sites) and other local partners as guidance finalizes.

Stinson described two operational trends counties are considering: balloting‑on‑demand systems that print ballots when voters check in, and expanded logic and accuracy testing requirements that will lengthen pre‑election L&A work. She said some large Texas counties recently moved to ballot‑on‑demand to prepare for changing requirements but recommended Lubbock County wait for final guidance given ongoing litigation and federal rulemaking.

The presentation closed with a request that commissioners consider funding for increased poll‑worker pay, additional V‑drives and a training facility or longer‑term space solution to reduce repeated setup/teardown of equipment. Stinson said the office has already applied for grants and would bring purchase requests back to the court if grant funding is not secured.

Stinson and her staff invited commissioners to visit the elections facility to view equipment and offered to provide regular updates as state guidance becomes available.","Elections staff briefed Lubbock County Commissioners Court on multiple recent and pending state bills that will change ballot forms, curbside voting rules, post-election audits and polling operations; officials warned of higher training, overtime and equipment needs and said they have applied for a grant to buy poll pads.","actionData","errors"]

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Lubbock County general assistance director warns welfare funds near exhaustion as demand for cremations and utility help rises

Lubbock County elections office outlines legislative changes, equipment and training needs ahead of 2026 cycle