Citizen Staff Writer
GARRY DUFFY
gduffy@tucsoncitizen.com
Fees for Pima County health services and animal care will rise if the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approves increases proposed to help offset a projected budget shortfall.
The Pima County Health Department’s overall budget, about $27.2 million this fiscal year, is slated to be reduced to about $25.3 million next year.
About 68 percent of the budget is funded through grants and service fees, with the remainder coming from the general fund.
Such fee increases – totaling about $1.1 million – would be in the 10 percent to 30 percent range, depending on the service, according to a health department memorandum addressing Tuesday’s meeting.
The increases would allow department officials to avoid significant service cutbacks or layoffs.
“After careful assessment measured against increasing service demands from individuals who also face significant financial challenges, PCHD staff is recommending fee increases across the department to improve the revenue portion of departmental support,” Sherry Daniels, department director, wrote in a Feb. 26 memorandum.
Targeted for public health and animal care fee increases:
• Communicable disease prevention, including family planning, tuberculosis clinic and sexually transmitted diseases
• Public health nursing, including vaccines for children and adult immunizations
• Consumer health and food safety
• Animal care services: adoption services, neutering and spaying rescued animals, licenses and permits
Fees for county health services, animal care likely to rise
IF YOU GO
• What: Pima County Board of Supervisors Meeting
• When: 9 a.m. Tuesday
• Where: Pima County Administration Building, 130 W. Congress St.