Given its pivotal role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuesday’s meeting of the Allen County commissioners began with a funding request from Rebecca Johnson of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.
The Health Department requested $115,000, an increase of $15,000 from last year.
A significant part of the justification for a funding increase is based on the Health Department being “the leaders and subject matter experts dealing with the coronavirus pandemic,” said Johnson.
She also noted that “like everyone else, we did not predict this pandemic, nor were we staffed or equipped for it fully. Our shortcomings were unable to be avoided.”
Hence Johnson said additional funding from the county would be used to help support the costs of hiring/retaining a new employee with experience as a Regional Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.
“She will be the right hand of the Health Officer/Administrator and will be assisting all four counties that we serve.”
Johnson also suggested that additional funding from the county is necessary because “medical experts predict a surge in cases of coronavirus in the fall or winter,” so it’s important to “improve our preparedness and capabilities, as well as strengthen our partnerships.”
She therefore emphasized to commissioners the importance of “making a plan for the fall,” including consulting other counties that have already had multiple COVID-19 cases.
With regard to what such a plan might look like moving forward, Commissioner Bruce Symes said that there has to be a distinction between “good health practices, public safety” and “personal liberty.”
It comes down to “personal responsibility,” he added, suggesting perhaps a reticence towards the county strictly enforcing any specific rules for behavior beyond echoing general public health recommendations.
As Symes put it, moving forward involves a question of deciding “what’s good for the public, as opposed to telling people what they can and can’t do.”
ADDITIONAL COVID-oriented costs to consider in relation to the Health Department include those linked to administering a vaccine (if one becomes available).
And “contact tracing,” or the practice of locating and notifying people who’ve come in contact with an infected person, can expend significant funds and resources as well.
Johnson further mentioned that funds would be used to support a call center, as the Health Department has received a “massive amount of calls” from residents and business owners since the pandemic took hold in the U.S.
All told, Johnson explained, “expectations are high for public health and especially now during this pandemic. To continue to serve our county and its communities, we require support and funding from the county.”
Regardless of a need for additional funding, however, Johnson said the Health Department hoped the increasing funding would be possible without raising taxes, and instead achieved by readjusting the county’s budget.
