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Health advocates urge larger, stable funding for St. Louis Department of Health
Summary
Multiple health organizations told the budget committee the city’s Department of Health needs increased, sustained funding to address disparities, clinical services, mental‑health and violence‑prevention work, and to replace dwindling grant dollars.
Several public-health organizations and practitioners urged the Budget Committee to increase and stabilize funding for the City of St. Louis Department of Health, citing prevention, emergency preparedness, and health‑equity work that they say cannot be sustained on temporary grants.
“Public health promotes and protects the health of all people and their communities,” said Induelle Jolly, president and CEO of the Integrated Health Network, testifying that the Department of Health represents a small slice of the city budget yet delivers core services that support neighborhoods and the local economy.
Advocates made three linked points: that the department’s staffing and core operating capacity is underfunded relative to the city’s needs; that several prevention and clinical programs have lost or face reductions in federal grant funding; and that investing in public health yields downstream savings and better outcomes in safety, education and workforce productivity.
Speakers included leaders and partners from local health organizations and the board that oversees city hospitals and public‑health clinics. Risa Rollins of the Community Health Commission of Missouri asked the committee to “prioritize adequate, stable funding for the Department of Health to maintain its workforce and fulfill its mission,” and Asia Owens, CHCM’s advocacy mobilization manager, highlighted gaps in access and the public‑health effects of looming Medicaid changes and an 11.8 percent uninsured rate in Missouri.
Board of Health Vice Chair Kristen Simpson, a nurse practitioner who runs a public clinic, reported that the city recently lost a Department of Justice grant that funded a bullet‑related injury clinic: “Public health is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s the foundation of our city’s well‑being,” she said, urging that the city move toward best practices in municipal health funding.
Speakers tied public‑health funding to other priorities discussed at the hearing: homelessness and housing instability, maternal health disparities, and violence prevention. Several witnesses asked the committee to fund the department from stable general‑fund sources rather than one‑time federal grants, arguing the work is ongoing and cannot be sustained by short‑term sources.
Ending: Committee members noted the requests and said they would consider public‑health needs as hearings continue; advocates asked the committee to include sustained general‑fund support when it advances FY26 recommendations to the full board.
