Medford health department seeks general-fund support as grants wind down, highlights inspections, outreach and rodent control

The Medford Board of Health told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 6 that its proposed fiscal 2026 budget would rise from $810,978 to $955,579 largely because two positions previously paid from ARPA would move onto the city’s general fund and because of routine cost-of-living and step increases.

Health Department staff said the department separated mosquito control and canine services into distinct line items this year after a 4% invoice increase for mosquito control and a rise in kennel costs as more dogs were housed. “We are already over budget this year, with the number of dogs we’ve had to deal with,” the department representative said.

The department highlighted a series of grant-supported expansions this year. Participation in a regional Public Health Excellence Grant allowed the city to fund inspection consultants and training: all three environmental inspectors completed Tier 2 food-safety training and one inspector is Tier 3 trained. Staff said that, with grant support, they conducted “over 551 restaurant inspections this year.” Public health nursing delivered more than 800 flu and COVID vaccinations at clinics and performed 49 homebound vaccinations; school-related vaccine and TB testing work was also noted.

The Office of Prevention and Outreach described community engagement work supported by municipal and philanthropic grants: an expanded…