Ottawa County administrator John Gibbs says the 264-million-dollar budget approved Tuesday night by the county commission contains enough money to fund the county health department:
“The current budget still is up even with the modifications I have made and it is obviously more than enough to account for the essential programs being done by public health.”
But county administrative health officer Adeline Hambley does not agree:
“Even though you don’t want to say it out loud you are in fact cutting services to children and families through this action.”
Commissioner Jacob Bonnema does not support cutting the health department budget. he says a majority of people making comments at commission meeting also oppose reductions:
“The people elected us to listen. They have clearly spoke that these cuts are too deep.
The budget, including health department cuts passed 7 to 3. commissioner Rebekka Curran was a yes vote:
“I feel like pulling back some of the Health Department funding is appropriate. I in no way shape or form would ever want to close the Health Department.”
The new budget takes effect October first.
