Health District Conducts A Lonely Budget Hearing

By Jan Howard

No one from the public was present for a Newtown Health District hearing on Monday on its proposed 2003–2004 budget of $385,104.

The budget request is up $9,566.96 from the current budget of $375,537.04, but there is a decrease of $446.72 in the borough and town government assessments, from $225,446.72 in the current budget to $225,000.

Anticipated revenues from the state are up slightly, from $42,754.47 in the current budget to $42,814. These revenues are based on a per capita dollar amount, Director of Health Donna McCarthy explained. For municipalities with populations of over 5,000, such as the Town of Newtown, it is $1.68 for each resident; for populations under 5,000, such as the borough, the amount per resident is $1.96.

Though the per capita amount was already reduced from last year’s figure, Ms McCarthy said the state is considering another decrease in funding for this year.

“There has been serious discussion of cutting per capita drastically,” she said. “They’re arguing the amount now.

“It was $1.99 for the town; then the per capita was cut to $1.68. Now they are talking about it again,” Ms McCarthy said. “I’m trying to come up with ideas in case a shortfall happens.”

Projected fees in the budget are anticipated to be $49,884, slightly less than this year’s budgeted $49,885.60. Carryover, which uses unreserved fund balance, is $67,406, up from $57,450.25 in this year’s budget, an increase of $9,955.75. “It takes care of increases in salaries,” Ms McCarthy said.

There are only minor changes in the proposed budget, mostly due to increases in health insurance, contractual, and salaries, which are not within the control of the Health District.

Copies of the budget are on file for review at the Health District office.

A meeting for formal adoption of the proposed budget has not as yet been set.