Finance committee approves using agent-fee funds to add county sanitarian amid inspection surge

The Vernon County Finance Committee on Tuesday voted to authorize use of non-lapsing health-department agent fees to cover the cost of adding a second sanitarian, after a presentation from county health staff that described rapid growth in inspections.

"We function as an agent of DATCP in Vernon County," Amy Cliver, the health department presenter, told the committee, citing Wisconsin statute 250.014 and the county's role in inspecting retail food establishments, lodging and recreational facilities. She said the program has grown from about 162 facilities in 2017'018 to roughly 450 this year and that the county's fee revenue supports the positions. "This program is fully funded by the fees that the program generates. There is no impact to the tax levy," she said.

Cliver outlined staffing and budget projections that accompany the growth: historically one full-time sanitarian supported the program; the department now projects two full-time sanitarians plus a part-time administrative position would increase annual expense to the low hundreds of thousands of dollars. She also warned the committee that DATCP (the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) has raised its administrative share of collected fees (from 11% to 13% this year) and projects further increases that will reduce net county revenue.

Committee members pressed for clarity about the committee's role. "We can budget it for it, but we can't approve the position," a member said during discussion, and staff confirmed that hiring authority rests with general government not finance. The resolution considered by finance asked only for permission to use the health-department's non-lapsing agent-fee balance to cover the staffing costs; the item will go to general government and then to the full board for any formal position approvals.

After discussion, a committee member moved to add the use of the non-lapsing agent-fee fund to pay for the additional sanitarian; a second was offered and the committee approved the motion by voice vote. Chair confirmed the item will next be considered by general government before the full county board.

Why it matters: The county's local agent program provides quicker, local inspection and licensing services than the state agency could provide directly, officials said, and the fee-funded model avoids increasing the county tax levy while addressing public-health oversight need.