I see a lot of comments like this, but no one has answered a key question. What is DPS supposed to do when the number of license applications they receive is six or eight times greater than their staffing level?Nuts4hotwheels wrote:In an ideal world the government angency would be accountable to the citizens but that is not the case.
Texas can and should do better to serve its citizens.
It is a state agency, so they don't have the option to simply hire more people when they don't have the budget to do so. Twice DPS has asked the Legislature for more money for the CHL (now LTC) division, but the request was denied. Contrary to the myth that I continue to see frequently, DPS does not get the license fee; that goes to the State's General Fund. The only money DPS gets is what was budgeted to it in the preceding legislative session.
They are pulling employees from other divisions to work on LTC applications and they are working three eight hour shifts seven days a week. This leaves other divisions short-handed.
I understand everyone's frustration, but don't blame DPS, blame the Legislature that has refused to provide sufficient funding. Remember, blaming people for things beyond their control is a great way to destroy moral and efficiency.
Chas.