Health department fees and internal adjustments largely cover supplemental asks, commissioners told

County staff reviewed the health department's supplemental requests and reported a complex but manageable picture. The department requested additional revenue in several lines (one ask described as an additional $285,000 on top of a 4.9 per‑capita baseline), but staff said proposed fee increases — notably a planned 3% school‑nursing fee increase expected to bring roughly $375,000 — and historically unused departmental budgeted salary/benefit savings reduce the net need.

Staff reviewed year‑to‑year unused budget amounts and said the lowest unused amount in recent years has been about $2.5 million, most of which is salary/benefit savings from turnover. Using conservative assumptions about likely unused balances and pending fee increases, staff concluded the health department's budget could be balanced for the coming year without a large general‑fund supplement; commissioners were told a remaining shortfall would be covered by the department's fund balance if necessary, with a commitment to revisit in a Mid‑Year adjustment if revenues fall below expectations.

Commissioners asked for final fee decisions to be taken up in November (staff said some fee proposals will go to the board in November) and asked that staff return with numbers showing the effect of adopted fee changes. Commissioners approved several health‑department items contingent on the fee actions and asked staff to monitor the fund balance and revisit any unmet needs at the mid‑year amendment.