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~-s-~~1/ <br />~~ <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING THROUGH <br />STATE LOCAL AID-TO-COUNTY <br />WHEREAS, State funding for local public health services is small, only 0.3% of the <br />total state budget, and these funds are extremely critical in the delivery of local public <br />health services; and <br />WHEREAS, State funding for local public health is provided through: (1) Aid to <br />County, (2) Categorical funding and (3) Contracts/grants for special projects; and <br />WHEREAS, Aid-to-County funding is the only non-cate o~ rival funding allocated by the <br />state to local health departments to assure the provision of essential public health <br />services; and <br />WHEREAS, These funds are intended to improve health at the local level by providing <br />resources to address locally identified gaps in services and community needs and creating <br />the infrastructure necessary to effectively and efficiently respond to local needs; and <br />WHEREAS, local public health departments must be prepared with the infrastructure to <br />respond to known issues such as emergency preparedness, communicable diseases, <br />pandemic flu, childhood obesity, diabetes, infant mortality disparities, methamphetamine <br />lab clean-up, food safety and promoting the availability and accessibility of quality <br />healthcare services, as well as response to emerging needs; and <br />WHEREAS, local public health departments must be adequately funded to mobilize <br />communities to improve the health of those disproportionately impacted by disease and <br />early death, and reduce health risks for the entire population; and <br />WHEREAS, Governor Beverly Perdue's proposed budget calls for over a 60% reduction <br />in Aid to County funds (a reduction of $6.8 million of the current $11.4 million funding <br />and elimination of all $400,000 .Aid to County funding from Division of Environment <br />and Natural Resources); <br />NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners opposes the cuts to Public Health Aid-to-County funding. <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County <br />Commissioners supports increasing Aid to County funding for local public health <br />departments to assure a strong statewide system that is prepared to address local public <br />health needs. <br />This the 5th day of Apri12011. ~~j~,`+~~eX/~~ ~/ <br />Bernadette Pelissier, Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />