Council to consider incorporating health department funding request into city budget

The city manager told the Casper City Council he plans to include a recent funding request from the county health department in the city's budget development. "We plan to incorporate the request into the development of the budget, which would bring the city's contribution to, dollars 600,000 even on an annual basis," the city manager said. He added that this would represent a restoration toward earlier funding levels.

Councilors discussed the distribution of health department funding across local jurisdictions. One councilor said Casper, the county and Mills contribute but other municipalities in the county do not appear to be contributing; the councilor asked whether other cities could be engaged to share the cost. A councilor and the city manager noted that by statute when a city becomes first-class it opens the jurisdiction to the health department, making funding discussions more complex.

Councilors asked for additional dialogue with other municipalities and county partners about funding shares. No formal appropriation or vote was taken at the pre-meeting; the manager’s statement reflected a planning posture for the budget process.

Ending: The manager will include the health department request in budget development; councilors requested further intermunicipal discussion about funding responsibilities and distribution.