Johnson County public health director flags licensing fee spike, rising communicable‑disease costs in FY27 budget

Danielle Pudet Majeski, Johnson County Public Health director, outlined the department’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget and warned supervisors a change in the state licensing system could sharply increase costs for the county’s food‑establishment program.

Majeski told the Board of Supervisors that overall the department’s budget shows a modest net revenue decrease of $6,598 and a slightly reduced expense request, but several structural changes are influencing the numbers. She said the county will lose some federal NACCHO funding for the Medical Reserve Corps and expects transfers of certain septic and non‑routine system responsibilities to state agencies.

The most immediate operational concern, Majeski said, is a DIAL (Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) move toward a new SAFER licensing system that would change how counties are charged. “That system is demanding a change,” Majeski said, estimating a shift from about $25 per license to roughly $2,500 per license and noting Johnson County holds seven such licenses. She told supervisors the county cannot unilaterally set restaurant licensing fees because “the fees that we're able to charge for restaurant inspections are set by the state.”

Majeski defended the county’s continued role in local inspections, saying county staff inspect temporary vendors and frequent events the state would not and that local inspections reduce downstream communicable‑disease follow‑up costs. She cited recent communicable‑disease spending as an example: $196,870.76 on communicable‑disease follow‑up in the prior fiscal year and $60,101.81 on active and latent tuberculosis follow‑up (translation costs of $12,916.80 were noted separately).

Supervisors pressed staff on options to recover or shift costs. Majeski said state rules limit local fee setting and that the department is advocating at the state level for funding to mitigate the change. She also noted ongoing workforce turnover in public health and signaled potential retirement and resignation impacts on capacity.

Staff discussed technology and contract items in the department’s decision packet. Majeski described Qualtrics as a critical tool for outbreak response, saying it saved about seven staff weeks (roughly $16,000) during a recent measles investigation by letting exposed people self‑identify. Supervisors debated whether Qualtrics and a proposed two‑year Credible Mind contract should be carried in Public Health’s budget or evaluated as an enterprise/ASO expense.

No formal vote was recorded on the Public Health budget during the work session; supervisors asked staff to return with clarifying figures and options for the decision packet.

The board’s next step is to consider the department’s decision packet and clarifying estimates on the SAFER licensing costs and TB‑case expense detail before finalizing FY27 appropriations.