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San Juan County health department outlines budget cuts, reorganization and staffing changes
Summary
Department leaders reported a roughly $16.7 million total across funds, proposed current‑expense reductions to about $2.3M, management consolidation, and targeted revenue strategies (Medicaid administrative match, environmental health fee changes) to preserve services while shrinking FTEs.
Mark (department lead) presented a budget overview to the Board of Health on Dec. 10 that covered five departmental budgets totaling about $16.7 million across current expense, grants, mental health tax, housing and pass‑through funds. He said the status‑quo current‑expense budget submitted for fiscal 2026 was roughly $2.6 million but department reorganization and savings would reduce that toward $2.3 million and lower FTE counts.
Key changes include shifting part of departmental salary and benefits to the affordable housing fund, holding a fiscal clerk position open, and shrinking the management team after staff reassignments. The department reorganized six divisions into five, naming Ellen Wilcox as deputy director leading Healthy Communities; Ethna Flanagan will lead WIC‑related work; and Jessica Nye will lead disease prevention and environmental health functions.
Mark said the department will pursue increased Medicaid administrative match revenue and may propose a fee increase for environmental health services in 2027. He warned the board that further reductions are possible in 2027 as state and local revenue pressures continue. Board members thanked staff for prioritizing program preservation but asked to be kept informed about potential future reductions.
