With the 2008 budgeting process in Lyon County heavily underway, officials at the Lyon County Health Department are hoping their appropriation request is granted and $100,000 in funding cuts is restored.
Lougene Marsh, executive director of the health department and federally funded Flint Hills Community Health Center, said the number of patients in the family planning clinic was decreased by 25 percent in 2006 because of reduced funding.
“We really had no ability to serve those patients,” Marsh said.
Lower numbers of patients creates a domino effect. Marsh said state grants are put at risk when fewer patients walk through the doors. The health department looked at a $6,000 reduction of state funding because there were fewer patients.
“It’s sort of having a multiplying effect,” she said.
Other than the family planning clinic, Marsh said, the department hasn’t made any other reductions.
“We want to strive to maintain services in the other programs,” she said. “All of those are important to the community.”
Although other services haven’t been reduced or cut, Marsh said, that could change because costs continue to go up and funding isn’t going up with it. Medical supplies, cost of vaccines, staff costs, health insurance for employees and custodial costs all continue to go up.
Marsh said the programs offered through the health department benefit the entire community. Recent incidents of tuberculosis and mumps are one example of this. The health department was responsible for advising the infected person as well as people close to the person. Personnel at the health department also educated the public about TB and mumps during the incidents.
In the health department, public health served 4,773 patients in 2006. Family planning served 525 patients and Women, Infants and Children program served 1,542 clients.
Other departments include the department of environmental health, which helps ensure that restaurants and drinking water are safe for people, Marsh said.
“Every time you and I go to a restaurant you can have a greater level of comfort because of their work,” Marsh said.
Child-care licensing ensures the safety of Lyon County’s children by licensing 120 child-care programs in the county, Marsh said.
The health education and promotion department serves an important part of the community, Marsh added. This department assists in tobacco cessation, hand washing instruction and helps people realize the importance of exercise and nutrition.
“Those impact everybody in the community,” Marsh said.
Marsh said it is important when people come through the door for services that there is enough staff to assist them. But, if funds do not go up, that could change.
“We will work hard not to have to limit hours or reduce staffing,” Marsh said. “But in reality, there’s going to be a point in time when that is not possible.”
Marsh said she recognizes that the health department isn’t the only entity struggling in Lyon County.
“We certainty recognize that Lyon County has the same challenges,” she said. “It’s a challenge on the county, and it’s a challenge on each organization that depends on some kind of support from the county.”
admireed (anonymous) says...
Less taxes PLEASE! Cut the budget.
July 13, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
Tyson is much of the problem throughout the whole community. The illegals bleed every free dime they can get and we sit here and pay for it and don't do a thing about it but whine. It's time to stand up to Tyson and the illegals.
July 13, 2007 at 8:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )