Snohomish Health District cutting jobs, services

Snohomish County's health board voted Tuesday to cut 36 positions at the Snohomish Health District early next year, affecting about 14 percent of the staff and nearly a dozen local public health agency programs. The board expects the reductions to save the district $1 million.

"A growing and more diverse population, years of level funding in the face of increasing costs of doing business, and the current economic crisis created the perfect budget storm," said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer and director of Snohomish Health District.

He said the board had limited options to increase revenues, "and no choice but to cut services."

The consequences of the cuts, he predicted, are likely to impact the district beyond next year.

Expected to end at the end of this year are programs for: the First Steps/Nurse Family Partnership Clearinghouse, Parent/Child Health, Healthy Communities, Injury Prevention, Water System Support and West Nile Virus. Also expected to lose staff are tuberculosis control, vaccine preventable diseases, child care health, oral health, and tobacco prevention and control programs.

The board also approved fee increases for clinical services, effective in January, and environmental health fees increased last Saturday.

The board's vote on Tuesday was unanimous.