The Summit County Health Department will not be as affected by federal funding cuts to public health programming as initially anticipated following the passage of the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, according to Health Director Phil Bondurant.
“Regardless of where you stand on the bill, that having passed is a good thing for us in a sense because we now know what we’re going to be dealing with,” Bondurant explained. “The allocations are expected to be complete by Oct. 1, when the budget is due, and then at that point, we can begin to understand which of those funds in the president’s budget will be made available to the state of Utah on July 1 of next year.”
To date, the Health Department has experienced some reductions in its immunizations and public health emergency preparedness programs. The cuts are “manageable,” Bondurant said, and are being offset by cost-saving measures implemented earlier this year.
“What we learn on Oct. 1 will give us a runway to June 30 of 2026, and we can adequately plan to make the most of the funding we receive from the County Council and the general fund and what we know we will have from federal funding through the state at that time,” Bondurant said.
Bondurant added he does not expect any personnel cuts for full-time employees. Still, the Health Department has decided not to renew contracts with two nurses who were being paid through COVID-19 funding to help with immunizations. The Health Department also cut a coordinator position for the emergency preparedness program that was funded through federal contracts after not receiving a “noticeable award” this summer.
Unless something unexpected happens when congressional allocations are revealed this fall, Bondurant said the Health Department shouldn’t need to seek additional funding from the Summit County Council. However, he said he’s already communicated with County Manager Shayne Scott and Finance Officer Matt Leavitt about the county’s budget and available general funds, just in case.
“The County Council is keeping a close ear to the ground as it relates to public health and safety, as that’s their priority, and so when that time comes, when we have the information, if we feel that we’re in a space … that we can’t make it work, then I know they are open to that conversation,” Bondurant said. “I have full faith, given the success of the department in the most recent years, that they will make sure that we’re taken care of and that we’re supported as needed moving forward.”
Bondurant said the Health Department will also continue to prioritize immunizations despite federal cuts to the program, including a potential redistribution of money within the department’s own budget, to ensure immunizations are still widely available and accessible throughout the county.
As for emergency preparedness, Bondurant said the county’s robust program is why Summit County was successful in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. He called it “very nearsighted” not to continue supporting the program in the wake of federal budget cuts.
“We’re going to take a very similar approach, use the data that are available to us, the needs of the community and determine how we shift things around and maybe adjust the way we look at things to make sure that there’s adequate funding in that program to be prepared to represent this county and lead the way in protecting those inside this community during the next public health event,” he said.
Bondurant said he doesn’t know what to expect specifically in October, but he’s hopeful that the Health Department’s outlook is better than it seemed a few months ago. More than anything, though, he wanted to express his gratitude to his employees for staying strong during a difficult period for public health.
“I don’t think the community understands how trying this has been for them, and for them to continue producing a high level of work and to continue working in the community, being present and available, that’s really cool,” Bondurant said. “I would hope the community recognizes how fortunate we are to have such a passionate public health staff.”
Related Stories
Source link