Health Departments Face Cuts to Address Budget Shortfall

By Gordon Hopkins A bill under consideration by the Nebraska Legislature would cut $4.5 million from state health departments has local officials worried.LB (Legislative Bill) 261 is the mainline appropriations and capital construction bill for the biennium that begins July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2027.The state is facing a significant budget shortfall, once estimated at more than $400 million, although hard numbers are hard to come by because economic forecasts continue to change.Senator Robert Clements (R-District 2) introduced LB261 on behalf of Governor Jim Pillen and contains cuts in an attempt to address the shortfall. Mark Schoenrock testified in front of the Legislature Appropriations Committee in Lincoln on Monday, March 10. Schoenrock is chair of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) Southeast Area Director and President of the Public Health Solutions testifying on behalf of these organizations today.Public Health Solutions serves Jefferson, Gage, Saline, Fillmore and Thayer Counties.“I certainly understand the challenging financial decisions before you. We consistently face the same challenges at the county and district level, to best allocate scarce resources to the most important priorities,” said Schoenrock. “Nebraska’s Local Health Departments serve a vital role for all Nebraska citizens. I am very proud of the dedicated and talented staff at Public Health Solutions and the service our team provides to the citizens of southeast Nebraska. We have a staff of 22 people and annual budget of $2.3 million. The proposed cuts would reduce our budget by approximately 10 percent.”“This reduction in State Public Health Aid will have real negative consequences for families, businesses, and communities across our state and district,” said Schoenrock, suggesting the move could cost the state more than it saves. “I like to think of the services we provide as being largely preventative in measure and save our district and state tremendous costs to society downstream. These proposed cuts are truly penny wise and pound foolish.”“We are only asking that our current funding structure remains in place,” said Schoenrock. “Reducing services to our district residents is not an option we want to face and will in the long term, lead to higher costs to society down the road.” Some of the services provided by PHS include: Healthy families program provides voluntary no cost home visiting services. Rooted in Relationships program supports early child care providers, children and families with social-emotional development services coaching and training and parental classes. Clinical services provide immunizations and dental care to many who would otherwise rarely or never obtain those critical services. Environmental health program provides information and resources on air quality, animal and insect bites, bed bugs, household waste, lead, mold, radon and water safety.PHS also provides critical services in emergencies, support the health and well-being of veterans, CPR, first aid classes, and behavioral and mental health services such as suicide prevention training, youth drug and alcohol prevention, opioid crisis response and Narcan training, and wellness recovery action planning.Schoenrock concluded, “I ask that you fully restore Local Health Department funding. Public health is an investment in Nebraska’s people, communities, economy, and future.”Similar points were made in front of the legislature last year when Governor Pillen recommended a $15 million cut to the behavioral health aid base in fiscal year 2024 and 2025 as part of the biennial budget adjustment. Gale Pohlmann, who was chair of the Jefferson County Board at that time, spoke in opposition to the proposed cut at the Appropriations Committee of the Nebraska Legislature.“This reduction of funds for behavioral services is in direct contrast with what we know is a behavioral health crisis occurring statewide. As a county commissioner, we see it in our jail population with individuals waiting in our county jails for spots to open up at the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC). Last week, Brad Johnson, Director of Lancaster County Corrections, testified before the Judiciary Committee that there are 14 individuals waiting an average of 74 days to be admitted to the LRC. We are all too familiar with hearing from our local hospitals, about the number of individuals admitting to our hospitals and taking up beds when they need to be in the LRC,” said Pohlmann. “Every day I see Nebraskans across our community who are experiencing significant mental health and severe substance use issues, and we know there are access issues. This budget reduction would be a significant setback in the regional behavioral health authorities effort to make improvements, cover gaps and needs, improve access and sustain capacity in the recovery oriented system of care.” Because Nebraska uses a biennial budget, the legislature is not required to pass a balanced budget and the governor is not required to sign one. Deficits may be carried over into the following year. However, the state has budget rules that require lawmakers to balance revenues and expenditures.

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