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Health director outlines 2025 programs, warns of reduced COVID-era funds in 2026
Summary
Wasatch County Health Department Director Jonelle Fitzgerald presented the department's 2025 annual report to Midway City Council, highlighting programs such as a CARES family-support effort (66 families served), a new falls-prevention class for seniors, clinical services and immunizations, and a 2025 budget just over $4 million with a planned reduction in 2026 as COVID-response funds end.
Jonelle Fitzgerald, director of the Wasatch County Health Department, presented the department's 2025 annual report to the Midway City Council on June 2, outlining services, programs and budgetary trends.
Fitzgerald said the department's total budget in 2025 was "just over 4,000,000" and that the budget is expected to decline in 2026 as one-time COVID-response funding phases out. "More than 50% of health department funds come from state and federal grants," she said, noting that grants provided about 54% of the 2025 revenue, with taxes at about 28% and fees near 18%.
She summarized community programs that the department runs or supports: the CARES program (designed to help high-risk families) served 66 families in 2025; a new falls-prevention class offers seniors strength and balance exercises and medication- and home-safety guidance; the medical reserve corps provided first-aid support at local events; and routine clinical services include immunizations, WIC nutrition support and well-child checks.
Fitzgerald said Wasatch County generally ranks high in statewide health indicators (life expectancy about 82 years versus 80 statewide), but she noted challenges such as uninsured residents ("over 13 percent of Wasatch County residents don't have health insurance") and mental-health indicators including depression prevalence and suicide rates the department watches closely.
She encouraged residents to contact the health department for services and said the department is increasing social-media outreach on Facebook and Instagram to improve community engagement.
The council asked a few clarifying questions during the presentation; Fitzgerald supplied program and budget detail and distributed the health-department brochure for members.
Next steps: The department will continue outreach on program availability and work with municipalities in the valley on public-health preparedness and volunteer recruitment for the medical reserve corps.
