Health Department warns commissioners of steep Health First cut; seeks carryover and staffing adjustments

Speaker 7 presented the Health Department’s budget items and stressed significant grant reductions for 2026. She said Health First funding was reduced from roughly $338,541 in the prior year to about $90,005 for the coming year. To preserve essential services, the department proposes keeping one nurse funded under that grant, using carryover (reported carryover: $93,180.84) to pay three $5,000 stipends, and relying on other departmental funds for vehicle and equipment needs.

The health director also requested a $15,000 generator for the new building and asked commissioners to approve using some limited trust and carryover funds to maintain immunization, environmental health, septic permitting and lead investigation work. The department described a recent workload increase (more than 30 lead cases in the prior year) and said shifting responsibilities to a part‑time LPN and redeploying staff are part of the planned response.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about carryover balances, matching requirements, and whether the budgeted items were sustainable over multiple years. The director said she expects at least $18,000 in carryover specifically available to cover certain stipend and program items and that some grant awards were still listed as notices awaiting formal award documents.

No formal appropriation of carryover or new long‑term hiring was approved at the workshop; the department will refine figures and return with final appropriations and any necessary ordinance or resolution language for commissioners to act on during formal budget readings.