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Commissioners temporarily earmark $200,000 for health department school and mental-health programs
Summary
After debate, commissioners approved placing $200,000 in the 2026 county budget to let the health department allocate funds among school-based and mental-health services; the allocation will be revisited at a later meeting.
DeKalb County commissioners voted to place $200,000 in the 2026 county budget for a set of health-department programs that include school incentives and a newly funded mental-health appointment program for students.
The motion — made and seconded during budget deliberations — directed Health Department Director Cheryl (first referenced by commissioners) to allocate the funds among 15 programs the department oversees, including school nurse incentives (supplies, conference training and hygiene items), virtual-clinic support in Garrett (a virtual clinic staffed by a Park View nurse practitioner), and a small fund to cover mental-health appointments for school-age children. Commissioners said the funds would be targeted to provider partnerships and schools that have demonstrated consistent service delivery.
Opposition and concern: some commissioners objected to adding the $200,000 at this stage, saying the county is facing a tight budget year and that those services had previously operated with state-provided HFI funds. One member argued the county should not assume ongoing funding when the state program expires. After discussion, a motion to include $200,000 in the budget passed by a 4–2 vote. The board agreed to revisit the earmark after staff finalizes all budget numbers.
Why it matters: commissioners said school-based health incentives, mental-health access and the school liaison position support students and families at the local level; opponents warned that ongoing county funding could be difficult to sustain if budget pressures increase.
Ending: Commissioners left the $200,000 in the proposed county general budget pending final reconciled figures and a follow-up vote at the next meeting.
