GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Ottawa County is nearly a month away from the start of the 2024 fiscal year.
FOX 17 learned Wednesday that Ottawa County Administrator John Gibbs plans to handle the creation of a new public health budget without input from any current leadership within the health department, including Health Officer Adeline Hambley.
Hambley says Gibbs has directed fiscal services to develop her new budget. She explained there's a discussion to use $1.3 million from its health fund's contingency account to supplement needs.
"I know Fiscal Services has been trying to figure out how to make that budget, budget balance and meet the law," Hambley said. "I have not been involved in any of the conversations about public health programming and potential cuts. I've reached out numerous times to ask to be at the table or to say this is complex and we should meet and discuss with fiscal. I have not received anything."
Her office initially asked for $6.4 million from the general fund. At a recent county meeting, Chairperson Joe Moss asked for it to be cut down to $2.5 million and cut out all COVID-19 grants. A total reduction ofits 2024 budget by more than 80 percent. Hambley said this would force the department to close within a matter of weeks.
However, Ottawa County officials pushed back on those claims.
Hambley explains the COVID grants make up to $2.2 million in funding. The health department says if this money goes away, this is also going to eliminate six positions.
"If you take out all the COVID funds, it's actually a lower operating budget than 2023. Our proposed budget for 24, lower than 2022, and it's lower than 2021," Hambley added.
Hambley says that this new change of using contingency account money would get them in the ballpark of $3.8 million in general fund contributions it still will not allow the department to provide adequate services.
"If they're proposing a cut, and every single line item for public health, you would be looking at significant time increases, or turning away of people for programs, or you look at significant time increases for inspections, permit issuance, or things like that," Hambley added.
The health officer says this potentially meets the minimum state funding requirements for essential services. She said this is based on a formula set by the state back in 1993.
"You have to match the minimum funding amount, and you have to match the minimum serviceable amount. And so without both of those together, you put at risk the funding from the state to provide those services," Hambley said.
Hambley said she was blocked from communicating with the public via the county health department’s social media pages. On Wednesday, the health officer said still doesn't have access.
County Administrator Gibbs, along with County Chairperson Joe Moss, has denied possible closure claims Monday, calling Hambley’s public disclosure “inappropriate and unprofessional.”
"I think it's 100% within my statutory duty to inform of risk to public health and safety in our community," Hambley said.
The two go on to explain in their press release that they aim to get Public Health to align funding near pre-COVID-19 levels.
"The Department of Public Health, like all American families and businesses, is being required to set its budget to pre-COVID levels. Such a requirement has nothing to do with politics, but basic common sense and fiscal responsibility," according to the press release.
2023.08.28 FY 24 PH Budget Information Update by WXMI on Scribd
The 2024 fiscal year budget is set to start October 1.
