County opens 26 places for student summer jobs

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La Salle County commissioners voted unanimously on Monday, April 22, to offer summer employment to full-time students in a variety of government jobs over an eight-week period beginning after the end of the current school year.
The annual Summer Youth Employment Program at the county pays $11 per hour for 40 hours per week and runs the gamut from outdoor landscaping work and supportive manpower for road and parks maintenance to clerical duties in courthouse offices. Employers include county commissioners, the cemeteries department, the county clerk, treasurer, tax collector, and the sheriff’s office.
This year, the county has added two more positions to the program, bringing the total summer jobs to 26, and has extended the work opportunity from six to eight weeks. Program dates are June 3 through July 26.
According to County Judge Leodoro Martinez III, not all positions were filled in the program during the summer of 2023, although government officials hope to attract more youths to the employment opportunities this year.
Commissioners learned Monday that not all of the students employed in the program last year served the full six weeks made available to them, as some had previous commitments that included FFA and 4H events, and high school sports.
“Some of the kids last year wanted to work a little longer,” Judge Martinez told commissioners on Monday. “We want them to work as long as possible.”
The sheriff’s office has reduced its job slots by one for 2024, and Comm. Erasmo Ramirez Jr. has added one position to his precinct. The county’s new department for maintenance of cemeteries has created two positions in its first year of operations.
The county judge’s office has estimated that the cost of the program will increase this year from $60,000 allocated in 2023 to more than $90,000, including taxes and social security contributions, for 2024.
Commissioners voted on Monday to budget an additional $34,000 for the summer employment program. The motion was made by the county judge and seconded by Comm. Raul Ayala.
La Salle County’s job opportunities are available to all full-time high school and college students. The minimum age is 16. Commissioners have not set a maximum age, but indicated they do not expect to receive applications from adult college students over the age of 24. Applications and further information are available through the county judge’s office at (830) 483-5139.