Having just begun his role as the new director of the Dane County Department of Human Services in June, John Schlueter will now lead the $322 million agency through millions of dollars in expected cuts and reduced services, according to The Capital Times.
Schlueter took over last month for interim director Astra Iheukumere, who had been running the county’s largest agency since 2022, and his appointment followed the county’s restarted search for a permanent director after Amy Everett withdrew her acceptance of the job offer in February.
The Department of Human Services makes up 40% of Dane County’s budget and has over 1,000 employees. It includes services like rental assistance, child abuse and neglect investigation and behavioral health support. To provide these services, it contracts with hundreds of community organizations.
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard in May announced that the county faced a $31 million budget deficit — which she attributed to inflation, underfunded state mandates, slowing sales tax growth and increasing day-to-day operating costs — and asked all departments to propose 4% cuts.
Salaries and benefits are the county’s largest expense.
A 4% reduction for the Department of Human Services means a $13 million cut. Schlueter said retaining as many staff members as possible is a top priority.
County departments are set to present budget requests for next year to the Dane County Board in September, and Agard will release her budget proposal by Oct. 1.
