Park County’s public health staff presented their FY2026 budgets and program adjustments June 12, saying they expect to cover payroll for next year but will draw down grant reserves for some programs.

Travis, speaking for the health department, described several revenue streams and changes: higher license fees for retail food and tourist homes approved at the state level, an increase in immunization purchases and reimbursements, and the county’s wastewater testing and other grant programs. He said DPHHS (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services) advised local public health to plan for level grant revenue but cautioned there remains uncertainty.

Why it matters: the health department funds a mix of core services (immunizations, environmental health, school nursing) through state and federal grants. Increasing fee schedules and better insurance billing for vaccines could reduce reliance on the general fund.

Revenue and staffing highlights: Travis said the county had spent about $76,000 on vaccine purchases year‑to‑date and had $93,000 in revenue coming in for vaccines, which he cited as an example of turning program activity into offsetting revenue. He also said changes approved in the 2025 legislature raise license fees (tourist home licensing moving from $40 to $100 annually and new retail food categories) and that reaching reimbursement targets for inspections could increase county reimbursements from roughly $20–25,000 to as much as $50,000 in 2025 and potentially $100,000 in 2026 if inspection coverage reaches state targets.

Staffing and grants: the department plans to reallocate duties to reduce general fund exposure, including shifting some director duties into reimbursable grant work and seeking to refill a vacant communicable‑disease/home‑visit position contingent on grant funding. Travis said a previous strengthening public health workforce grant fully reimbursed a position; future hires would depend on available grant funding.

Other notes: Kristen clarified that opioid abatement reserve funds are intended for community‑oriented responses (prevention, justice‑system assistance) and will come before the commission. Staff emphasized that some one‑time grant balances (for asthma and diabetes-related work) will be spent down in FY2026.

Next steps: health staff will refine grant carryforward estimates and follow up with the commission on proposed rehires and program adjustments.