JFAC reviews Public Health Services budget, restoration requests and ARPA-funded one‑time projects

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Monday reviewed the Department of Health and Welfare's Division of Public Health Services budget, covering requests to restore ongoing programs, one-time ARPA-funded projects and several program enhancements. Division manager Keith Bybee introduced the division and budget lines.

"My name is Keith Bybee. I'm the division manager of budget policy analysis," Bybee said as he opened the presentation. Director Alex Adams said the review was part of a broader exercise to align ongoing spending with program needs. "I would characterize it as a healthy exercise," Adams said of the department's '0based budgeting and program review.

Why it matters: The division administers core prevention and public health infrastructure—immunizations, communicable disease surveillance, laboratory services, vital records, EMS oversight, WIC services, suicide prevention and data modernization. Committee members were asked to weigh restoring programs moved from the base to one-time funding last year, as well as support for multi-year ARPA projects.

Most important details

- Scale and structure: The presentation shows the Division of Public Health had an original FY2025 appropriation of about $164,020,000; the director said the governor's recommended FY2026 request reduces that…