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Whitley County health board approves budget; department to absorb expiring grant-funded positions
Summary
The Whitley County Board of Health approved the agency's budget after a presentation outlining small line-item increases and the planned reallocation of expiring grant funds, including about $96,000 in CARES Act reimbursement to support salaries.
The Whitley County Board of Health on a voice vote approved the health department's budget after a briefing from agency staff on small line-item changes and several expiring grants.
An agency official told the board the draft budget increases part-time salary funding by $1,000 (from $15,000 to $16,000) and raises conferences and supplies by $500 each, a $2,000 change to those line items. The presenter said a 4% general salary increase was included in the draft and that about $17,000 in equipment for potential truck-stop projects would be requested separately if building permits trigger the need.
The presenter also said the department identified roughly $96,000 in CARES Act reimbursement from 2021 that the U.S. Treasury and state finance authority have classified as salary reimbursement for activities performed in 2020. "We're taking that money next month and putting that into our cash balance," the presenter said, adding the funds will provide an extra boost to the 2024-25 budget.
Board members were told two longstanding state grant streams that historically supported individual staff positions will expire; those positions will be funded out of the regular budget going forward. The department described the change as "going back in the regular budget" and said one remaining grant will continue to support a staff position for about another year.
On procedure, the board postponed final action on a separate Health First Indiana (HFI) allocation pending further state guidance; staff said the HFI submission is due June 1 but the county can revise the HFI budget later. The board indicated it preferred to wait until July to adopt any HFI-specific changes.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes: motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Adoption of budget as presented: motion by a board member, seconded; approved by voice vote. (The transcript records a voice vote; a roll-call tally is not specified.)
What this means
The department will absorb staff positions previously reimbursed by expiring grants into its base budget and plans to use identified CARES Act reimbursement to shore up the tax-levy cash balance. Larger equipment purchases tied to potential private development will be requested separately if those projects proceed.
The board is expected to revisit HFI allocations and any related approvals in July once state templates and guidance are available.
