Health Department Will Begin Four-Day-A-Week Operation

Effingham County Health Department Administrator Rebecca Merten has announced the Health Department will begin operating four days a week, beginning Monday, August 3.

Merten said that day, all Health Department employees will take a one day per week pay cut. Also, the Health Department will only be open Monday through Thursday, 8am to 4pm, except until 5pm on Wednesdays. No Health Department services will be provided on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays except for responding to public health emergencies.

Merten said, "The cuts are necessary because the Illinois Governor and General Assembly have chosen to neglect their duty to pass a budget. About half of the Health Department's budget is state or federal money that must be budgeted and appropriated by the State before it can be released. For State Fiscal Year 2016, we anticipate a 10%-20% decrease in these funds. The proposed cuts are not something we're happy about, but we will make the needed adjustments to work within the budget. However, something we cannot responsibly do is to move forward without knowing which of these grants will be funded at all, whether or not they'll be paid retroactive to July 1, what the amounts will be, and when we can expect payment."

Merten continued, "We have received multiple memos from various state officials 'encouraging' us to continue providing services. With no state funds, we can continue to provide services for about two months. Then, the doors will close. Without a public health department, Effingham County citizens will no longer have their restaurants inspected, permits would not be issued for septic systems, communicable diseases and other infectious disease outbreaks would not be investigated, public health emergencies would not be responded to, pregnant women and their children would not receive WIC food and formula the availability of immunizations in the community would be substantially reduced, the medical care of foster children would not be assured, and more."

In response, Merten said, she is cutting hours and pay so that, if needed, they can continue to offer at least critical services for more than a couple of months. If the budget impasse persists beyond late September, Merten said more reductions would be needed.

Merten said, "I want to 'encourage' the State to pass a budget so that we can offer the services they are 'encouraging' us to provide."