Holdout Counties Threaten Panhandle Care Lack Of Funding May Force Health District To Cut Services, Staff

The Panhandle Health District may slash services and reduce staff if counties refuse to dole out more cash.

“It’s not that we aren’t asking, we just aren’t receiving,” said Jim Fenton, Panhandle Health District’s financial officer and interim director.

The state’s seven public health districts asked lawmakers Tuesday for a $610,000 budget increase to maintain their programs, which provide home, physical and environmental health services statewide. Health districts test drinking water, inspect restaurants and manage immunization programs, among other services. That’s 8 percent more than what Gov. Phil Batt recommends.

State funding of the Panhandle Health District, which includes Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone and Benewah counties, depends heavily on how much money the counties contribute. The budget, Fenton said, has remained stagnant for about three years.

Program cuts and worker layoffs are certain if more state and county money isn’t found. Fenton was uncertain how many employees and which services the district would trim first.

Other health districts across the state benefit from the Panhandle Health District’s lack of local funding. State dollars that could benefit the Panhandle are doled out to districts that receive greater county support.

Bonner County Commissioner Bud Mueller said the health district should cut programs and staff.

“There has to be a stop at some point in what the government provides,” Mueller said, adding that residents can’t afford any more taxes.

Fenton said the Panhandle Health District is a good buy for taxpayers, who get a 90 percent return on each dollar.

Norman Casper, director of the Idaho Falls district, agreed prevention programs are big money savers.

“It saves the counties and ultimately the taxpayers of Idaho many thousands of dollars of cost,” he said.

This year Bonner County paid $177,250 toward the health district while Kootenai County contributed $377,622.

Besides county funding, population, poverty and public assistance rates are part of the distribution formula.

Mueller said all government agencies claim false savings.

“A lot of people are using the program that don’t need to,” he said. “They tell us they screen them out, but I don’t believe it. Show me.”

Kootenai County Commissioner Dick Compton said all county agencies are faced with funding hardships, and the Panhandle Health District should adjust its priorities.

“That’s not unique to them,” Compton said.

To streamline its budget, Kootenai County has privatized its janitorial services and combined departments to eliminate management positions. Compton said the health district should follow.

“We need to get the maximum bang for the buck out of our county government,” he said.

, DataTimes