Snohomish County braces for public health cuts

Snohomish County braces for public health cuts

Cortney Williams' 9-week-old daughter, Neila, is seen in this photo.

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Story Published: Oct 15, 2008 at 11:41 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 3:58 AM PDT

By Bryan Johnson

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- Health departments across the state are bracing for cuts, and young mothers could be among those hurt.

The money crisis is a statewide problem. On Tuesday 70 workers at the King County Public Health got pink slips. They'll be out of a job on Jan. 1. And Snohomish County is dealing with its own threat to public health.

"For next year, this agency is facing a $1.5 million to $2 million budget shortfall," said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish health officer.

In days when governments speak in billions and trillions, a couple of million doesn't sound like that much.

But here it could determine the number of people who get flu shots. It could also determine the number of mothers who get help in First Steps or the Women Infant Children program.

"I don't know where I'd be without it," said Cortney Williams, a mother of a 9-week-old girl. "Right now they give me nine cans of formula a month, and formula is $20 a can. I don't know where I'd be without that."

Williams' baby, Neila, also gets checked for weight and size. Williams gets counseling.

No decisions have been made about which program must be cut. But the choices are limited.

At the center of the problem are license tabs. The health district used to get big bucks from license tabs. They don't anymore.
The rest of the money come from Snohomish County, which faces its own $20 million budget shortfall. The outlook is grim.

The health district will continue to inspect restaurants, but they'll pay higher fees, as will those who need health permits. It is the voluntary programs that are affected.

Snohomish County is not alone. Thurston County warns cuts are ahead, as does Pierce County. In fact, all of the health districts said they will be in Olympia stressing the need for state help.

The health departments say they have mandates for emergency planning and AIDS prevention. Whatever happens, those programs cannot and will not be cut.

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