Cochise County supervisors review public health budget; health director seeks two positions

Cochise County health department Director Barb Lang reviewed the department's fiscal year budget during the Board of Supervisors' April 30 work session, saying the department receives about half of its operating funds from grants and half from the county general fund and asking supervisors to approve two additional positions to address inspection and administrative backlogs.

"48% of public health is paid for through grants. 52% general fund," Lang said, presenting a budget breakdown that she said places many program expenses outside the general fund. Lang asked the board to approve one additional environmental health specialist — increasing that unit from eight to nine inspectors — and an administrative aide for the public fiduciary office to handle court-driven paperwork for wards of the court.

The request, Lang said, aims to reduce inspection backlogs for restaurants, septic systems and residential wells and free fiduciary staff to focus on casework. "We're asking for 1 position to increase inspections for restaurants, for septic, for private…