By Zach Jensen,
During Monday’s Winneshiek County supervisors meeting, Winneshiek County Supervisor Mark Vick took issue with Winneshiek County Public Health’s budget. Vick sits on the county’s board of health and said that WCPH’s budget includes approximately $225,000 in home health services for about 14 Winneshiek County residents, which he feels is irresponsible budgeting.
“You’re looking at $14,000 to $15,000 for less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the population,” he said. “To me, that’s not really … what public health is supposed to be used for. It’s supposed to be used for the whole public.”
Supervisor Steve Kelsay agreed and said he looked up the section of Iowa Code relating to public health.
“It specifically charges the board of health with services that are a benefit for the public,” Kelsay said. “Any individuals can be (served) at a fee commensurate with services provided. But, the focus of Public Health is to be the public itself.”
Vick said that the expense might be more justifiable if 100 county residents were using the service instead of 14.
Supervisor Mark Faldet added that he would like Winneshiek County Public Health Administrator Vanden Brink to come to a meeting so she can answer the supervisors’ questions and discuss whether it is feasible to transfer some budgeted funds from WCPH to NEI3A for FY25-26.
Full article available in the February 20 Decorah Leader.
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