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Utah County health chief warns inflation, staffing and shrinking fund balance threaten services
Summary
Utah County Health Department Director Eric Edwards told commissioners the department faces rising personnel and supply costs, staffing shortages and an unsustainable draw from fund balance this year; he urged multiyear budgeting, said recent state funds will help, and requested follow-up on population and budget overlays.
Eric Edwards, executive director of the Utah County Health Department, told the County Commission on June 28 that the department must plan beyond one-year budgets to keep up with rapid population growth, inflation and statutory duties.
"We're all feeling the inflationary impacts of what's going on right now," Edwards said during a detailed briefing on the department's revenue structure, staffing and program obligations. He said the department is working to develop 3-, 5- and 10-year budgets to inform capital projects and staffing needs and to avoid repeating year-to-year shortfalls.
Edwards outlined drivers of higher costs including salary and benefit pressures, supply-chain constraints for medical and…
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