Veteran services director asks for modest equipment, training increases as claims rise

Joseph "Mac" Mcderley, director of Veteran Services for St. Johns County, asked commissioners for small, targeted increases to his office's FY27 budget to cover equipment replacement and staff training as demand from veterans grows. "I'm asking for just an additional $90" for lease equipment and about $10,025 to replace computers across four positions, Mcderley said. He also requested an additional $2,000 for training to complete certification processes for newly hired service officers.

Mcderley told the board the office has seen a substantial jump in the dollar value of claims recorded from 2023 to 2024 after the Veterans Administration began supplying additional categories of benefits — including DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) and widow pension claims — in its published figures. "In 2024, for the widows and the DIC claims and the pension claims for widow was at $10,998,404," he said, noting that the additional categories bumped overall totals upward compared with previous years. He emphasized the effect on workload: although new hires are being trained, certification delays at the VA’s office of general counsel mean new staff cannot yet sign claims, limiting capacity until certifications are processed.

Commissioners and staff praised Mcderley’s stewardship and careful approach to the modest budget ask. A committee member described the department as "easy" to work with and commended its record on stewardship and service. County staff confirmed veteran services sits in the general fund under the "economic environment" section and that the budget is personnel-heavy with only modest operations costs.

The presentation recorded the department’s operational practices — two daily new‑client slots, a mix of appointments and walk‑ins, and ongoing coordination with the VA outpatient clinic — and signaled that Mcderley expects to receive 2025 claim totals later in the summer. No formal action or vote occurred; the request will be reviewed in the context of the county’s overall budget process.