Vigo County Health Board approves 2026 budget amid uncertainty over Healthy First Indiana funding

The Vigo County Health Board approved the health department—s proposed 2026 budget after discussion about carryover funds and uncertainty over continued Healthy First Indiana (HFI) state funding. The board voted to approve the budget by voice vote; the motion passed. The vote came after staff reviewed a budget that relies in part on carryover from prior years and on HFI allocations that are not guaranteed beyond the current cycle. Joanie, a county health department staff member, said the department shifted plans to "spin down" some 2024 carryover and asked the county council last spring to appropriate funds to sustain smaller programs while state funding was uncertain. Board members noted roughly $440,000 in salaries tied to programs that depend on HFI or other ongoing revenues. Joanie said the county commissioners had discussed using opioid settlement dollars to continue critical programs if HFI funding lapses. "The commissioners and I have had a conversation about it, and it's such an important part of what the county does that they have considered, if it would go away, funding it through opioid settlement dollars," Joanie said. Board members asked for confirmation that the health department had contingency plans; Joanie said she had "plan A, B and C" and would return carryover appropriations to the council as required. The budget packet included a breakdown of the current nonreverting general health fund, projected spending for 2025 and the new requested amounts for 2026. Why it matters: Several staffing lines and program activities are tied to HFI and to carryover that the state had encouraged the department to spend down. If HFI funding does not continue, the county will need alternate funding sources or to reduce program scope. The board approved the minutes of the previous meeting and then approved the budget by voice vote. Staff said they will seek council appropriation for any carryover spending and will inform the board of developments if the state funding picture changes. No formal amendments to the budget were recorded in the meeting transcript. The board will next convene in October; staff said they will provide updates on HFI funding and any council action on carryover appropriations.