County health department staff summarized a draft two‑year biennial budget and the department’s first intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Oregon Health Authority at the Crook County Board of Commissioners’ July work session, explaining that several program elements and funding streams are delayed or in flux pending legislative action and state processing.

“Not everything is reflected in this iteration because there are several things still either being hashed out in the legislature or there’s pretty significant delays,” a health department representative said, describing delayed federal funds and staff capacity issues that affect when contracts and funds will be processed.

Staff said some program elements will rely on funding arriving after Oct. 1 and that the department is temporarily shifting activities between allowable funding streams. They reported two new funding streams: a lump‑sum allocation for tuberculosis case management intended to maintain minimum trained staff in the event of an intensive case, and direct county allocations for communicable disease previously routed through Deschutes County.

When commissioners asked how prevalent TB is locally, staff said Crook County had not reported an active TB case during the staff member’s tenure but noted latent or jail‑linked cases have occurred. Staff said TB case management is resource intensive and that the lump‑sum funding is intended to keep trained staff available if a case appears. On hepatitis and syphilis, staff said funding has not increased even though cases are rising in parts of Oregon; the region relies on a small regional team that includes nurses and epidemiologists in Deschutes County for contact tracing and case followup.

Separately, staff reported on the Community Health Advisory Council (CHAC). Alex, a health department staff member, said CHAC held a public meeting in June to review four applicants and that the current membership was short of a quorum under the council’s bylaws. The meeting proceeded with the appointed members and recommended four applicants — King Plum, Hope Porterville, Devin Nelson Harmon and Freddie Bridal — unanimously to the Board of Commissioners for appointment. Staff asked that the board place the appointments on the consent agenda.

Commissioners discussed the uncertainty of future state funding levels and acknowledged discussions among local and state partners about prioritizing core public health infrastructure if funding is reduced. Staff said they are cross‑training communicable disease nurses to maintain 24/7 coverage and will continue coordinating regionally to respond to increases in reportable diseases.

Commissioners accepted the report and staff indicated the budget item and CHAC appointments will be presented on the consent agenda for the board’s regular meeting.