Veterans services director requests assistant reclassification, cites modest FY27 increases

Tom Freeman, director of veteran services, presented the Veterans Department's FY27 budget by telephone and summarized the office's caseload, staffing and a personnel request.

Freeman said the office is a three-person team — two accredited service officers and one assistant — that directly serves about 20,000 veterans in the county and an estimated 40,000 people when family members and survivors are included. "We service a population of about 20,000 vets in the county and uh including families and surviving spouses a population of probably over 40,000," Freeman said, adding the office interfaces daily with federal, state and local partners on benefits and services.

On personnel, Freeman said he submitted a reclassification request to make his assistant an exempt position, citing irregular hours and meetings with partner agencies. Freeman said he sent the request through HR but that HR indicated it would not recommend the reclassification; staff noted recent law changes that Freeman said may prevent reclassification for positions below grade nine. Brandy (county staff) confirmed the personnel request was not included in the packet presented to the board.

Freeman characterized the veterans budget request as modest: the increases are mainly vendor-driven (utilities, VA-related software, advertising) and total about $1,575, he said. Commissioners thanked Freeman; no vote or board action on the reclassification or the modest operating increases occurred during the presentation.

Freeman concluded by thanking the board and ending the departmental presentation.