In reducing staff to cut budget, DHS paid millions to departing employees

The Department of Human Services spent $14 million on employees who resigned or accepted voluntary buyouts from the state agency in fiscal 2016, a 70 percent increase over the prior year.

The increase in so-called “terminal leave” payments comes as the agency continues to deal with decreasing staff in some areas while simultaneously increasing staff in another department.

A spokeswoman said the increase in terminal pay was to be expected.

DHS has reduced staff by more than 1,200 employees over the past two years, agency spokeswoman Sheree Powell said in an email.

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