Commissioners press applicant on staffing, vacancy rates and fiscal impacts for proposed crisis homes

Commissioners at the July 28 meeting asked detailed questions about how Western Tidewater Community Services Board would staff two new crisis therapeutic homes and how the organization would address vacancy and turnover rates raised by residents.

Robbie Powell and others presented slides showing high vacancy and turnover rates for Western Tidewater in 2025 (Powell cited a 44% nursing vacancy rate and 35% peer vacancy). "If nursing is such a huge part of this facility staffing and he can't staff his current buildings, how is he gonna staff 2 more in rural Zuni?" Powell asked. Brandon Rogers said the CSB uses a combination of RNs and LPNs, employs PRN/temporary nurses to cover vacancies, and that licensing and reach standards include quarterly reviews by the state.

Rogers also addressed funding: he said the county provides $325,000 per year in funding and that Western Tidewater provides services valued at approximately $9.42 million annually to county residents, arguing a strong return on investment for county funds. Commissioners requested updated fiscal impact analyses, a current facility incident log, and clarification of what the state's DBHDS licensing and location guidance requires.