Health district cuts coming

Four programs totaling $350,000 are set to be axed from the Spokane Regional Health District’s 2008 budget. But administrator Torney Smith doesn’t want to say which ones are at stake until after the agency’s board of directors considers the cuts included in the proposed $22.5 million plan.

“I don’t want to put public information out that could put pressure on the board,” Smith said Tuesday. “The budget is not built on a popularity contest.”

Once the board approves the plan, the public will have little input on the cuts, which Smith acknowledged could be controversial.

The cuts do not include health district funding for a program to support children with cleft lips and palates. About $35,000 for the Maxillofacial Review program was eliminated from the 2007 budget after federal funding cuts eliminated state and local support. When parents protested the cuts, the state funding was restored, but the health district already had reallocated the money.

Individual cities and the county have agreed to help make up the health district’s portion of that program, which also would ensure about $61,000 in federal Medicare funds.

Smith said the 2008 budget, which represents a 1.4 percent decrease from 2007, is a carefully crafted document that shouldn’t be subject to lobbying by special interests.

“These decisions have been carefully considered,” he said. “The board has had a chance to go over this information.”

Decisions to eliminate programs or parts of programs include whether the service is or can be provided outside of the health district, the seriousness of the issue and whether providing the service prevents a more serious problem.

The proposed budget includes a $500,000 increase in undesignated reserves to help offset an anticipated shortfall in 2009.

The agency has struggled with increased costs of employee benefits and reduced state and federal funds.