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Committee splits over cuts to local public health and prevention grants; motion to cut LPHA funds fails
Summary
The Joint Budget Committee debated multiple CDPHE reductions, approving some staff recommendations (mental‑health first aid, CARE Network at reduced funding) while failing a motion to reduce Local Public Health Agency distributions by $3.3 million on a 3–3 tie. Members asked staff for additional fund‑balance data and FTE impacts before returning to the issue.
The committee scrutinized several staff‑recommended reductions across the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and split on how to balance state and local public‑health needs.
Kelly Shen (JBC staff) presented R9, a proposed $3.3 million ongoing reduction to Local Public Health Agency (LPHA) distributions — roughly a 17.5% cut to those particular general‑fund distributions. Several members warned that those distributions are a flexible and locally directed source of funding that pays core public‑health staff; Senator Kirkmeyer and Representative Taggart both objected. Vice Chair Bridges moved the reduction but the motion failed on a 3–3 vote with Brown, Kirkmeyer and Taggart voting no. The committee recessed to allow further review, and Shen agreed to provide more detail on fund balances, how the reductions would affect FTE and what other cash‑fund or MSA offsets might exist.
Separately, the committee approved staff recommendations to reduce Health Disparities grants (R8) and to reduce funding for the Mental Health First Aid program (R5). On the CARE Network (R7), members negotiated a compromise: rather than eliminating the program, the committee approved funding at $250,000 to preserve mentorship, virtual training and provider coordination supports.
Chair Weyen and staff noted that statutory language will need to be addressed if the committee wishes to eliminate programs or remove required appropriations; staff cited Section 20‑5‑44104 as an example of a statute that directs annual appropriations for specific programs. Shen also provided a package of additional balancing options that the committee may take up later in the process.
