Monica, director of public health, told the Budget Finance Committee the department faces a sharp drop in outside funding that will affect operations and program capacity.

She told the committee the state Help First Indiana (HFI) allocation the department had relied on will fall by roughly 73% for 2026, and a federal immunization grant of about $500,000 was cut or clawed back. "We've been experiencing a bit of whiplash in the public health field, related to funding," Monica said.

The reduction matters because the HFI and federal grants previously supported clinical services and outreach. Monica said staff moved many line items into the local operating fund and chose not to refill a recently vacated position to blunt the immediate impact. The department also plans to bring billing for clinical services in-house rather than outsourcing it, and to add reimbursable clinical services — such as STI screening, travel-vaccine consultations and latent TB treatment — that can be billed to insurance.

Monica said the department is prioritizing high-impact, preventive work and efficiency measures while pursuing accreditation readiness. She described ongoing community health assessment work and a coming community health improvement plan that will inform service priorities. She also highlighted a fall-prevention program that, per a state-commissioned IU Fairbanks School of Public Health analysis of 2024 services, generated an estimated downstream value of about $1 million and an approximate 32–35× return on every program dollar spent.

Committee members pressed on which clinical services can be billed. Monica listed immunizations as the largest reimbursable component and said the health department is expanding services that can be covered by insurance. She said the department will continue to seek efficiencies and develop a more stable revenue mix so services do not rise and fall with grant cycles.

Monica asked the committee to consider general-fund support when the full budget returns to the finance committee in September. "You guys do, as part of our total bucket budget package, approve the Help First Indiana budget as well as the local operating fund budget," she said. Committee members expressed support and noted the department's high value to the community.

The department will present final funding requests and program details at upcoming budget meetings as staff and council evaluate whether to supplement the department from the general fund.

Ending: Monica said the department hopes to submit an intent to apply for public health accreditation by the end of next year and will return with more specific budget numbers and program changes when the mayor's recommended budget comes to the finance committee.