Erin Fogarty, public health staff for the Livingston County Public Health Department, presented the department’s 2024 annual report at the county board meeting on Thursday, May 15, outlining fund balances, revenue sources and program expenditures.

Fogarty told the board the tuberculosis fund had a beginning balance on Dec. 1, 2023, of $65,890; revenues of $27,352 and expenses of $26,502 left a balance of $66,740 on Nov. 30, 2024. The department’s tax levy beginning balance at Dec. 1, 2023, was $1,772,976 and stood at $1,735,951 in 2024. Total 2024 revenues were reported as $2,810,604 and total expenditures as $2,771,228, leaving a year-end balance of $1,775,328.

Fogarty said tax-levy dollars were spent largely on senior services (36 percent), environmental health services (20 percent) and maternal and child health services (18 percent). She said fees and grants accounted for roughly 81 percent of revenue in 2024, and the tax-levy share declined from about 19 percent in FY23 to about 17 percent in FY24.

“Personnel and insurance account for 77 percent of our total expenditures,” Fogarty said, adding that fees for service have increased, in part because of Medicaid billings for senior services, while donations were down because the department did not request certain trust funds during a year with COVID-related funding available.

Board member Bob Weller asked for clarification on what the department logs as tobacco complaints. Fogarty said complaints arise both from public reports and from the department’s routine enforcement work under the Smoke Free Illinois Act, explaining that complaints can include missing signage or smoking in prohibited areas and that the department initially offers supportive resources before taking further enforcement action when necessary.

Marty Fannin asked about the county’s international travel consultation service; Fogarty said the department provides immunization consultation for travelers (for example, mission trip immunizations) and that not all local health departments offer that service.

Fogarty told the board she expects staffing shifts after a retirement in environmental health. She said Donnie Simmons, a 36-year county employee, planned to retire, and the department had promoted internally: an environmental health sanitarian position was accepted by Amy Necklace and Katie Hallmark from the senior services program will move into a sanitarian role. Fogarty said some duties were reallocated within the senior services case coordination unit to absorb staff shifts.

Fogarty also warned of “a lot of uncertainty” tied to grants and possible Medicaid changes that could reduce fee-for-service revenue; she said department leadership is tightening budgets and reallocating duties where possible.

Board member Gina Manker moved to accept the public health annual report; Monson seconded the motion, and the board approved the report by voice vote.