The Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources voted today to partially restore funding for local health departments during its budget decision meeting.

Through actions taken in HB 72, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2015, funding for local health departments was being rolled back to the FY 2014 level of $41.7 million in the Governor’s proposed budget. The elimination of formula-driven inflationary increases, which were restored as an offset to the teacher pension shift two years ago, would have reduced funding by $7.8 million in FY 2016 and $5.9 million for FY 2015.

Instead of adopting the funding reduction of $7.8 million in FY 2016, the Subcommittee rejected the BRFA language and voted to restore $3.9 million in funding for local health departments.

As previously posted on Conduit Street, the House Appropriations Committee began its budget decision-making process with subcommittee decisions today. The subcommittees will report these decisions to the full Appropriations Committee and the full Appropriations Committee will hold its decision meeting this Friday, March 13 beginning at 1 pm.

To follow along, stay tuned to Conduit Street.