Action by Legislature urged on stable funding for Public Health
The projected shortfall in King County’s general fund could jeopardize a variety of public health programs including disease control and direct care at public health clinics, according to the chair of the King County Board of Health who Thursday called for action by the state Legislature to authorize a long-term, stable funding source for public health programs across the state. The budget for Public Health is $193 million, of which $31.8 million is supported by the King County general fund. However, with King County projecting a $68 million gap between revenues and expenses in its 2009 budget, Public Health is preparing for a reduction of at least $10 million in services in 2009, with more cuts likely in the following years if no long-term, stable funding solution is found. Read the story, a breakdown of how Public Health is currently financed, what services are at risk, and a state task force report on public heatlh financing.
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