Minutes 06-05-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Darrell Butts noted that there are some fee schedule change requests on page 502, and there are some non-departmental items on page 357. Darrell Butts said the 2014-15 net change in the general fund was an increase of just under $178,000. He said there has been an increase in grant funds of almost $66,000. He said the main budget driver is the cost of living adjustment and the requested new position for a half time dental office assistant. He said this position will be a swap for a dental hygienist, so there is actually a savings of$43,000 with this. He said there is a request for an increase in one of the remaining dental hygienists hours, which will be an increase of$15,000. He said there will also be a senior full time public health educator who will focus on poverty, and this will be a total County cost of$70,000. He said some of this is start up cost for the work station, so $4,000 of that amount will not all be recurring. Chair Jacobs asked about the legislative impacts on the health department. Colleen Bridger said this is not known yet. She said Orange County has the lowest per capita funding for health departments in North Carolina. She said this is normally not a good thing unless you are considering the cuts. Chair Jacobs asked how the department is doing at serving dental patients in southern Orange County. Colleen Bridger said there is an increase in the whole County, and she would recommend exploring other avenues for providing dental services in the southern part of the County. Commissioner McKee asked if there has been any partnership with private providers in the southern part of the County. Colleen Bridger said Piedmont Health Services has been a partner in southern Carrboro. Commissioner McKee asked if they are capable of providing the additional services needed in the next couple of years. Colleen Bridger said Piedmont Health Services would love to provide the staff to do that if the County could supply the space. Commissioner Price asked if they provide the same services as the County. Colleen Bridger said the services are largely the same, except for dentures. Commissioner Gordon asked how many dental patients are coming from the southern part of the County. Colleen Bridger said she would need to get back to the Board with the actual numbers. She said there have been discussions about putting more square footage at the Southern Human Services Center and adding dental space in the southern part of the County. She said Piedmont Health Services would provide the staff, and the citizens would benefit. Chair Jacobs asked if her department works with nursing homes on dental care by going to the facilities. Colleen Bridger said no, but there has been discussion about busing senior citizens to the Hillsborough facility to provide services that cannot be provided in the nursing homes. Chair Jacobs asked for follow up on this. He said this is one of the gaps in care for seniors in assisted living and nursing homes. • Human Resources, Pg. 325 (including Non-Departmental Items, Pg. 340) Brenda Bartholomew said the 2014-15 increase of$55,000 for the department is primarily due to cost of living adjustment, new hires, and equity retentions. She noted the non department items on page 340, which will be discussed more at a future meeting. Commissioner Gordon asked if any positions have been cut this year.