Walton County approves $100,000 to cover shortfall in county primary care program

Walton County commissioners voted 4-1 on May 13 to provide $100,000 in one-time county support to the health department’s primary care program to cover an immediate budget shortfall.

The health department’s administrator, Holly Holt, told the board the clinic has seen a sharp increase in uninsured patients and is operating at a deficit. “I am requesting for around hundred thousand dollars to help us make it through the fiscal year,” Holt said.

Why it matters: Commissioners and residents said they do not want the county to cut primary-care services that serve uninsured and low-income residents. The board directed staff to fund the gap now and review long-term budget options during the regular budget process.

Details of the request and decision Holt said the department absorbed salary increases for clinical staff in a prior year that were not matched by recurrent funding, and that recent patient trends produced a larger-than-expected shortfall. Holt told commissioners the South End clinic has seen about a 66% increase in uninsured patients relative to recent levels; the north-end clinics are also seeing elevated uninsured rates.

Finance staff identified $75,000 in unspent Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) funds and suggested using $25,000 from the board’s insurance account to complete the request. A motion to provide $100,000 — $75,000 from HCRA funds and $25,000 from the board insurance account — was made, seconded and approved by a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Brad Drake cast the lone vote against the measure.

Public comment and board debate Several residents spoke in support of the health department, including Randy Lightner, who described a recent family medical experience and said the county clinic provided care when in-network private options were unavailable. “Anything that they need, it serves the entire community, not just the underserved,” Lightner said.

Commissioner Brad Drake questioned the long-term funding plan and said he would prefer a structural solution rather than recurring one-time allocations. Several colleagues said they agreed a one-time appropriation was necessary now but asked Holt and county staff to include a realistic, recurring funding line in the fiscal year 2026 budget so the department will not need to return month-to-month for emergency relief.

Next steps Holt said the health department will finalize its internal revenue and expense projections and return with budget information during the county’s normal budget cycle. The board also approved Holt’s reappointment as Walton County’s representative to the Northwest Florida Regional Health Council (two-year term).

The vote: motion passed 4-1. Commissioner Brad Drake was recorded as the lone dissent.