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Public‑health leaders warn proposed indirect‑cost treatment could force program cuts or layoffs
Summary
Staff reported open positions and said a county decision to charge indirects on benefits as well as salaries could significantly affect grant‑funded programs and personnel costs.
Clallam County public‑health staff told the Board of Health on April 15 that recruitment remains difficult and that a pending county budget decision about how indirect costs are applied to grants could significantly affect staffing.
Staff said two environmental‑health positions remain open and that recent finalist candidates declined offers because outside employers offered better pay or schedules. The department described active recruitment efforts, including statewide and national job posts and professional outreach.
Separately, staff flagged a county finance question about indirect charges on grants: a county bill proposes applying grant indirects to benefits as well as salaries. Staff told the board this practice, if applied to fixed federal grants with capped funding, could ‘‘blow up our budget’’ and force personnel reductions. Staff said they would meet with the county CFO and report back at the May 19 meeting.
Board members discussed the countywide context—there is no single county office that uniformly administers all grants, and some departments historically did not bill for indirects—so changes to indirect recoveries across departments can shift general‑fund impacts.
Ending: staff asked the board to note the staffing pressures and to expect an update in May after the finance meeting; they said continued local funding will be key if state and federal supports decline.
