Coronavirus
La Crosse County health dept. may need reworking, because of COVID
The COVID-19 outbreak has messed up the American economy, including government programs.
La Crosse County administrator Steve O’Malley says a lot of the county health department staff and budget will have to be devoted to the virus in 2021.
“We’re going to be having ongoing pandemic response in the new year,” O’Malley tells the county board. “To what level, we’re uncertain, but we’re not going to be able to completely ignore all other health priorities to only respond to the pandemic.”
O’Malley says about 75 per cent of the health staff has been assigned to pandemic-related work this year, and restructuring may be needed.
However, he predicts that Washington is likely to reimburse much of that spending, so tax spending on the health department may not have to be increased.
O’Malley laid out tentative budget plans for county supervisors on Monday.
A county budget for 2021 will be approved in November.