Pitkin County Board of Health recommends 2025 public health budget to county commissioners

The Pitkin County Board of Health on Oct. 10 voted to recommend the public health department’s proposed 2025 budget to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The department presented revenue projections of about $2.1 million and proposed expenditures just over $4.5 million; the plan relies on transfers from county sources, including the Healthy Community Fund, to cover most operating costs.

Board members said the recommendation is intended to let the BOCC consider the full county budget; the BOCC retains final approval and authority to change staffing requests. "The board of health has the responsibility, to review and recommend the budget to the BOCC," Public Health staff member Jordana said during the presentation.

Board and staff presenters told members the budget reflects modest increases in some state grants and targeted investments in ongoing programs. The department expects a roughly $313,000 gap between revenues and expenditures in 2025 that would be covered by the department’s fund balance, leaving an estimated total fund balance near $1.2 million at year end under the proposed plan. A significant recurring county revenue source for the department is the Healthy Community Fund; staff said the fund contributes roughly $900,000 annually to public health operations.

Staff highlighted a mix of grant-driven increases and reductions. The Office of Public Health Practice and Planning provided about $56,000 in increased state funding for core public health services, while a separate prevention block grant declined by about $13,500. The budget also includes a small increase—just over $22,000—for payments to Eagle County Public Health and Environment to continue providing Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services to Pitkin County residents. Staff said Eagle County provides WIC services in Elk Ridge and also offers services to Pitkin residents at its main location; staff estimated roughly 50 Pitkin County WIC clients use those services annually.

The planning, education and partnerships unit requested funding to retain and recruit staff for the Pick‑Area Co‑Responder Team (PACT) and to continue strategic planning and a mental‑health data analyst position through 2025. For PACT, staff said the field team currently includes two clinicians (covering different days), two peer specialists and a case manager—a total of five field staff—and budgeted increases would support continued staffing and data work.

Environmental health priorities included ongoing Lincoln Creek water‑contamination work, on‑site wastewater regulation updates to align with state triennial reviews, continued roll‑out of the state’s EpiTrax data system and emergency preparedness and response institutionalization. Staff requested an air‑quality specialist position to expand technical capacity for air monitoring, radon work and climate/health projects; that position was placed in a pending category and is not included in the recommended budget because countywide position decisions are coordinated by county administration.

"The air quality specialist position ... is not included in this budget," Jordana said, adding that the county administration had classified it as pending while awaiting decisions about airport‑related monitoring work and other possible funding sources.

Board members discussed possible alternative funding approaches for the air‑quality position, including asking the airport enterprise fund to contribute if airport operations were a primary driver. Members ultimately moved and approved the recommendation to transmit the department's budget to the BOCC for consideration.

The board’s recommendation is advisory; the BOCC will review the proposal during its own budget hearings. Staff said they can bring additional materials and arguments to the BOCC, including clarifying the air‑quality specialist’s role and potential funding sources, if the board wishes to advocate further.

Notes: The board’s motion to recommend the budget was seconded and carried by voice vote during the Oct. 10 meeting. The department will present additional materials to the BOCC when the county administration compiles final staffing and position recommendations.