Ottawa County administrators say they’re returning the Department of Public health’s budget to pre-COVID levels or an average of $3.8 million per year. The Public Health Department had requested $6.7 million in Fiscal Year 2024.
Last week when Ottawa County's Administrative Health Officer Adeline Hambley was asked to cut the department's budget by 50%, she pushed back publicly via social media and WGVU News stating such a cut would place county residents at risk.
“Over 16 programs and 100 people, so what that looks like is that if this passes, the Health Department closes its doors four weeks after October 1st, when the new budget comes into effect.”
In a county news release, “Claims being made by the Department of Public Health, such as that the department will be forced to close its doors, or to cut essential mandated services, are patently false, bad faith, and disingenuous fear-mongering tactics. This approach represents a continued pattern of insubordinate and unprofessional behavior out of the Department of Public Health.”
The release suggests the Ottawa County Health Department receiving a 2024 general fund contribution of $2.5 million in addition to its current fund balance.