Western Plains Public Health asks Mercer County for nearly 3% mill levy increase; commissioners approve $15,520 in opioid settlement funds

Erin Arata, director of Western Plains Public Health, told the Mercer County Commission the local public health unit is seeking an approximately 3% increase in mill levy support from counties for its 2026 budget to cover federal funding shortfalls.

"It's only $70,000 total across the 5 counties," Arata said of the proposed increase. She said Western Plains lost significant federal funding that ended abruptly in March, leaving the unit to reassess programming and staffing; federal funds previously made up roughly half of the unit’s revenue.

Arata said the health unit would consider fee increases and trimming expenses, and asked counties to convene on Aug. 19 to agree on the final mill levy request. She said the board approved the budget request understanding changes may be required later in the year, and noted the public-health board approved a 75-cent hourly raise for employees in the draft budget.

Separately, commissioners voted to transfer opioid-settlement money held by the county to Western Plains Public Health for prevention programs. The county’s auditor reported a current opioid-settlement balance of about $15,520.23. A motion to pay out that balance to Western Plains to continue an existing opioid prevention campaign — which includes youth messaging on screens at area schools, print materials, peer-support funding and take-back and leave-behind kits for first responders — passed on a unanimous voice vote.

"We have them come to our office twice a week," Arata said of a partner that provides peer recovery specialists, and she suggested opioid funds could help sustain that service as federal support winds down.

Ending: Commissioners asked to be notified of the Western Plains board’s final mill-levy recommendation after the multi-county meeting in August; they approved the one-time transfer of available opioid-settlement funds to the unit.