Some good news! The “Grants to Local Boards of Health” line item in the Governor’s proposed FY27 budget is $15 million - matching the amount needed to level fund the public health excellence grants and workforce programs through the Office of Local and Regional Health. Now is a great time to contact your legislator and let them know what your department does with those funds! My regional inspector inspected # restaurants this month…managed # ongoing hoarding cases… The regional public health nurse investigated # communicable diseases, provided # flu/covid vaccinations… The regional epi is working on this data or program, or better yet, share a story to illustrate the work. We want the line item to remain at $15 million as the House and Senate propose and debate their budgets and vote to send one to the Governor for approval. Find your legislators here.

DC SACCHO Trip: Later this month, Jen Tsoi and I are heading to Washington, DC, for NACCHO Leadership Week. We'll participate in SACCHO meetings with leadership from organizations similar to MHOA from around the country. Then we'll participate in Hill Day where we visit with legislators/staff. Let us know what to share with the federal legislators, or can you help collect stories from your municipality or SSA? Share them with us here.

Have a good weekend!

Teresa Wood Kett, executive director