Local Public Health Page Two

The practical effect of the above events leaves the core of public health in Washington State exposed as the only choice left for the additional cuts – that are coming. Cuts to Local Public Health Funding & Services Presently, Washington State’s thirty-five local health jurisdictions expect more than $32M in cuts from local public health funding for 2009, and likely more than double that ($64M) for the next biennium. This amount does not include significant cuts in funding expected from the State (the State currently estimates a $6.5B shortfall for the next biennium) and federal government - which is experiencing what many experts believe is the greatest fiscal crisis in the U.S. since the The Great Depression. The projected amount of at least $32M in cuts for 2009 for LHJs across Washington State means the following services will be reduced or eliminated in 2009 for many LHJs: • • • • • • • • • • •

First Steps (home and office visits with public health nurses & social workers) Nurse Family Partnership Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program Family Planning Immunizations West Nile Virus Communicable Disease services for HIV/AIDS and TB Dental sealant programs for children Safety and health child care programs Small Water System monitoring and technical assistance And, any public health service not mandated by law that cannot support itself

The above cuts are deeper than they appear because many of these funds are leveraged. The Chelan-Douglas Health District anticipates a $320,000 reduction in its local budget for 2009, but the practical impact will be a $1,000,000 cut. For example, for its First Steps Program Chelan-Douglas will have to cut the entire $250,000 program in order to save $75,000 because the balance ($175,000) is leveraged against $75,000 of discretionary funding (MVET backfill, LCDF, or 5930 funds) through grants, contracts, and/or fees. So to save $75,000, Chelan-Douglas will have to cut $250,000 worth of public health services. Heroic Challenges/Long-Term Goal of Dedicated Funding We need to move forward together as a public health system to meet these heroic funding challenges with the long-term objective of securing an adequate, dedicated, sustainable, and long-term funding source for public health.

Jeff Killip, JD MPH 360.586.4219 x106 [email protected] www.wsalpho.org