TO: Napa County Legislative Subcommittee
FROM: David Morrison, Interim County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Jesus Tijero, Staff Assistant II - BOS
SUBJECT: Public Health Funding Cuts
RECOMMENDATION
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Interim County Executive Officer requests discussion and possible action for Napa County to (1) join the California Can’t Wait Coalition to oppose the Governor’s proposed cuts to Public Health funding; and (2) submit a letter opposing the proposed cuts.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Governor’s January budget plan proposes to slash $49.8 million of the Public Health Equity & Readiness Opportunity (PublicHERO) initiative funds dedicated to workforce development and training programs and also proposes to sustain $200 million for public health infrastructure.
Today’s action would allow Napa County to join the California Can’t Wait Coalition to oppose the Governor’s proposed cuts to Public Health funding; and to submit a letter opposing the proposed cuts.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The California Can’t Wait Coalition is a broad-based group of organizations dedicated to protecting the health and safety of our communities and delivering health equity. Led by local public health departments, county governments, frontline workers, and community advocates, the Coalition urges the California Legislature to:
• Sustain the $200 million General Fund Annual Investment in Public Health Infrastructure
• Protect Public Health Workforce Training and Development Programs against proposed cuts in the Governor’s January Budget Plan
Governor Newsom’s January budget plan proposes to slash $49.8 million GF of the Public Health Equity & Readiness Opportunity (PublicHERO) Initiative funds dedicated for the following workforce development and training programs:
• California Public Health Pathways Training Corps to provide early career professionals in disadvantaged communities paid fellowships and internships at local health departments to gain experience to support permanent placements.
• Incumbent Worker Upskill Training to support training and continuing education to allow the existing public health workforce opportunities for advancement.
• California Microbiologist Training to provide microbiologists the training and experience needed to be eligible to take the certification exam, allowing them to conduct specialized infectious and communicable disease testing in public health laboratories.
• Public Health Lab Aspire to train the next generation of public health lab directors, as many are nearing retirement.
• California Epidemiologic Investigation Service Training to expand epidemiologist training placements in CDPH and local health departments.
The Governor's budget plan also proposes to sustain the $200 million annual investment for public health infrastructure.
By joining the California Can't Wait Coalition to urge the Legislature and Administration to reject the Governor's proposed $49.8M in cuts to PublicHERO workforce development and training programs and to sustain the ongoing $200M for public health infrastructure, Napa County will:
1. Be published as a partner on: cheac.org/california-cant-wait-coalition/
2. Receive updates on the budget process, including requests to send letters, engage legislators, and/or requests to testify in budget hearings against the proposed cuts.
3. Receive social media toolkits to help amplify efforts.