REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 24, 2024
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Allocation from the California Department of Public Health for Future of Public Health Funding
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept and approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 23-833 with the California Department of Public Health, reducing the allocation of Future of Public Health funding to support public health workforce and infrastructure by $529,670, from $33,853,248 to $33,323,578, for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
2. Approve and authorize the submission of the two-year Acknowledgement of Allocation Letter and Annual Spend Plan, as required by the California Department of Public Health, to continue to receive Future of Public Health funding through June 30, 2026.
3. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to execute and submit any subsequent documents, including work plans and budgets in relation to the California Department of Public Health Future of Public Health funding through June 30, 2026, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The allocation from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for Future of Public Health (FoPH) funding does not require a local match. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 23-833 (Agreement) is a reduction in allocation of $529,670, with $264,835 being reduced per year, for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026. The reduction will be absorbed through existing personnel salary savings in 2024-25 and 2025-26 and will have no impact on service delivery.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Budget Act of 2022 (Act) originally provided $200,400,000 in FoPH funding annually to local health jurisdictions. FoPH funds are considered ongoing funds and part of the baseline state budget, which must be approved in the annual state budget process.
The Act has since authorized a statewide reduction of 6.1% in FoPH funding, starting July 1, 2024 and ongoing, providing $188,200,000 in FoPH funding annually. Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement is a relative decrease in the corresponding allocation for San Bernardino County of approximately 2.3%.
CDPH requires that at least 70% of the FoPH funding be spent on expanding the permanent public health workforce, including salary, benefits, and training costs. The remaining funds, not to exceed 30% of the total allocation, may be used for equipment, supplies, and other administrative purposes such as facility space, furnishings, and travel. DPH verifies these requirements are met by tracking the use of FoPH funding through program codes in the Employee Management and Compensation System to fund positions within multiple DPH programs that historically would not be grant or fee-funded.
On August 16, 2024, DPH received Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement from CDPH for ongoing annual FoPH funding. The documents to be submitted will cover the retroactive period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026. This item is being presented at this time as this is the first available date following the required operational, fiscal, and legal review. Approval at this time will not impact DPH services or activities. DPH is recommending delegated authority to execute and submit any non-substantive documents, including work plans and budgets, in relation to the CDPH FoPH funding.
The recommended actions will allow DPH to accept the FoPH funding allocation and submit the Acknowledgement of Allocation Letter with required supporting documentation to CDPH by the extended deadline of October 15, 2024. DPH will return to the Board of Supervisors to present any substantive amendments or future allocations changes.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 4, 2024; Finance (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4205) on September 9, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 9, 2024.