The Worcester County Commissioners are pushing back on a state initiative to shift more health department funding to local governments that could cost an additional $6 million.
The Worcester County Health Department is pictured.
File photo
By Steve Green, Executive Editor
Worcester County is continuing to push back on a state initiative to shift more health department funding to local governments.
Currently, the Worcester County Health Department receives $5,015,910 in funding from the county. A shift in the local share match requirement for fiscal year 2025 will increase that to $11,022,108. In a letter dated June 18 to Maryland Public Health Services Deputy Secretary Nilesh Kalyanaraman, County Commission President Chip Bertino called the …% spike “a financial hardship” for the county. The letter reads, “The significant increase compounds the financial burden for Worcester County, where officials had to eliminate a $10,116,174 shortfall to balance the county’s FY25 budget. Reductions were made throughout the budget, with cuts in education and public safety, among other departments.”
Instead of passing on this major funding change, the county is asking the state to not enforce the increased funding burden. Worcester County Health Officer Becky Jones said the CORE funding match planned increases the county’s funding share to 73%, which is the second highest percentage in the state behind Prince George’s County. The match is derived from property values.
“There is nothing in COMAR that binds any of us to this required match,” Jones told the commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting. “Just as a reminder, we are second highest in the state at 73%. We are not saying the counties shouldn’t contribute something, but this is a lot. We want it to be more reflective of our county and we don’t think second highest in the state is not reflective.”
In February before the commissioners, Jones expressed her dismay with property values driving the equation. “Is property value really the best representation of our county as a whole or are there other metrics that should be looked at to define and determine what each individual county should be responsible for for their match?” she said. “These are questions we have posed to the state.”
During this week’s meeting, Bertino said, “There is no equation or formula that substantiates this increase that has been hoisted upon us by the state.”
Bertino’s letter to the state continues, “… The Worcester County Commissioners continue to advocate for a review of the currently required CORE Funding match. It is our understanding that the SFY25 budget bill requires Maryland Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management to submit a report to the budget committees on the CORE Public Health Services funding formula to include recommendations to adjust the Local Share Match calculation. We support this work and look forward to the committee’s findings. In the absence of a defined match formula, we request that the State hold Worcester County harmless of the proposed increase and grant a continuation of our agreed upon FY24 match. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.”
County Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said the county would like to seek an adjustment through Bertino’s letter because the burden on the county is significant. Young expects to know by November of the adjustment request.
After a motion by Commissioner Eric Fiori and a second by Commissioner Ted Elder, the commissioners voted 6-0 to seek an adjustment with Joe Mitrecic absent.