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St. Mary's County Health Department asks for COLA-driven budget increase and small supply purchases for senior services
Summary
The County Health Department asked commissioners to cover mandatory salary adjustments tied to the state personnel system and requested modest additional supplies for senior-focused in-home services and occupational health costs.
The St. Mary's County Health Department told commissioners the department's FY26 request focuses on maintaining existing programs rather than creating new ones, with the largest driver being salary adjustments linked to the state personnel system.
Director Fischer explained the local health department uses the state personnel system for many positions and therefore must plan for cost-of-living adjustments and step increases that the state approves. The department requested funding to cover the county-funded portion of those adjustments and said it hopes the state will provide corresponding funding for positions funded entirely by state sources.
In addition to personnel costs, the health department asked for a small amount of county funding to purchase supplies for senior clients served through the Adult Evaluation Review Service and related in-home supports. The supplies mentioned included incontinence supplies to prevent health complications and initial bundles that help seniors remain safely at home rather than enter costly nursing-home care. Fischer also cited occupational-health items (vaccines related to exposures, including rabies prophylaxis when human exposures occur) and said the department coordinates with the Department of Emergency Services on animal-exposure cases.
Commissioners pressed on the size of the request and whether some supplies could be billed to insurance or reimbursed by state programs. Fischer said some services are fee-for-service and state-reimbursed (Adult Evaluation Review Service / personal care program), but certain one-time starter supplies are not covered by insurance and the department requests county support in those limited cases. The transcript captured numerically unclear lines about the exact dollar totals for COLA and supplies; staff later pointed the board to the budget executive summary for the detailed breakout.
Ending
Staff asked commissioners to reserve judgment until final state COLA decisions are known; the health department will update its request if the state provides additional position funding.
