Caitlin, the public-health director, presented the Black Hawk County Public Health Department's proposed FY27 budget to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 6. The department submitted a proposed total budget of $7,069,970 and said it expects $2,883,287 in operating revenue, producing a property tax ask of $4,186,650 (a 5.28% increase compared with FY26).

Caitlin told the board the department's revenue mix is heavily grant- and reimbursement-driven. "The biggest chunk of our revenue is federal funding at $1,300,000 45% of our revenue," she said. She highlighted a new three-year scribe funding award of $277,000, consolidation of child-nurse-consultant funds into child health grants (which increased that grant), and noted some pass-through grants that will be reduced as the county moves from a pass-through role to direct recipients.

On staffing, Caitlin described several FTE changes: converting a licensed practical nurse position in disease surveillance to a community social worker to better address social determinants of health; adding three grant-funded FTEs tied to a multi-year grant; and budgeting paid interns at about $4,500 each (0.69 FTE spread across semesters). She noted a 3.5% wage increase in bargaining-unit contracts effective in July and that salary and benefits account for more than 90% of the department's expenses.

Caitlin acknowledged the sustainability risk when grant funding ends: she cited an abrupt end to a SNAP-related grant during her tenure that would have required staff reductions without subsequent revenue. "Had we not gotten the revenue of $75,000 for the solid waste spending that would have resulted in staff reduction," she said, noting the department has used a mix of grants, Medicaid reimbursements and fee income to support positions.

The presentation also outlined capital requests (two vehicles and one copier), operational cost-saving measures (cell-phone contract renegotiation, printing cost reductions) and a proposal to pay interns to improve equity and recruitment. Caitlin said the proposed department property-tax ask represents the portion of costs not covered by grants and other revenue.

What's next: County budget deadlines noted in the presentation: preliminary budget information is to be uploaded to the Department of Management website by March 5; auditors will mail taxpayer notices around March 15; and the first property-tax hearing generally cannot be held before roughly March 20, with a final hearing to follow per statutory notice periods.