Lewis County ratifies $2.00 million state funding increase for public health services

On Sept. 2, 2025, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners ratified Amendment 6 to the county's consolidated contract with the Washington State Department of Health, increasing the contract by $2,002,585 for public-health programs. John Oppenau, speaking for Public Health and Social Services, told commissioners the increase is new funding for ongoing program work and is divided among four areas: foundational public health services ($1,868,000), the maternal and child health block grant ($84,217), immunization quality assurance ($15,669) and preparedness ($34,699). A commissioner asked whether SNAP was included in the amendment; Oppenau replied that SNAP is not part of this contract. The board approved the amendment as part of a package of deliberation items on a 3-0 vote. The amendment will fund ongoing public-health activities administered by the county's public-health office under the state consolidated contract. The county did not present additional program-specific implementation timelines in the public deliberation; staff indicated the funding applies to work already underway in the listed program areas.