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Budget staff reports $9.8M reserve, rising medical costs and $2.8M in county pharmacy purchases
Summary
Budget staff presented the January financial snapshot showing a $9.8 million general fund reserve, higher year-to-date cash compared with last year, medical claims up about 20–25% through January, $2.8 million in county pharmacy purchases and $721,000 in related rebates.
Brooke, a budget office staff member, presented the January monthly financial snapshot to the Budget Board. She said the county has about $9,800,000 in general fund reserve and total collected revenue for the fiscal year at roughly $102,000,000. Brooke reported cash as of Jan. 31 at about $62,000,000 and that unallocated capital projects funds total $725,914.78.
Finance staff Wilkerson said medical claims have been a major driver of increased expenditures, with a roughly 20–25% increase year-to-date through January but that February preliminary numbers are lower and expected to reduce the year-to-date figure. Wilkerson added that the county now records a County Pharmacy line: through January the county purchased about $2,800,000 in prescription drugs, which generated about $721,000 in pharmacy rebates. "We're getting lots of money back from the county pharmacy," Wilkerson said.
Board members asked follow-up questions about county pharmacy participation and expansion. Wilkerson reported about 60% of prescriptions are filled through the county pharmacy; he said reaching 100% would require hiring additional pharmacists and expanding capacity. He noted the county's PBM, Affirmed Rx, sends targeted mailings each quarter to encourage members to use the county pharmacy.
Brooke and Wilkerson said there were no recommendations from BET today and no immediate changes to the reserve figure; they framed the snapshots as informational updates to the board. The board accepted the report and moved on to agenda items.
