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Knox County Health Department Balances Budget With Reserves, Blames State
A small dip into its reserve fund is helping the Knox County Health Department balance its budget.

The Knox County Board of Health Thursday night approved a $2.5 million budget for the 2009 Fiscal Year, that now goes on to the full Knox County Board for its approval. The budget is balanced, and Knox County Public Health Administrator Greg Chance says expenses are projected at roughly $400,000 lower than last fiscal year.

Chance says in what will otherwise be a lean fiscal year, taxpayers should be pleased. "Based on the projected assessed valuation for the County, I don't believe the proposed request in property taxes will indicate an increase in the Health Department's tax rate," Chance said. "Based on what the County Treasurer is telling me in terms of what they're projecting, I believe your rate will either stay at the current rate, or may even go down a little bit."

Chance says the main problem is the state -- with significant cuts to the Local Health Protection Grant and other funding received from the state, he's more than a little frustrated at lawmakers and the Governor. He calls the budget a "maintenance budget," thanks in part to the use of $52,000 from its reserve fund.

Chance also told the Board Thursday night that wellness screening clinics the Health Department does in rural areas of Knox County will cease effective January first unless a specific organization requests one, he says, because they're typically very poorly attended.
09 12 08 by Newsroom
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