Regional Health District considering $2.2 million budget

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Trustees of the Fallbrook Regional Health District held a public hearing on the evening of May 11 to review the proposed $2.2 million budget for 2022-2023. Several residents attended the meeting in person, but none commented to the board.

The board will meet again on June 8 to vote on the budget. Chair Howard Salmon requested CEO Rachel Mason present a more detailed comparison of the current fiscal year to the proposed budget with percentage of change for each category.

Projected income the district will receive includes $2,167,411 from property tax revenue, $26,733 from interest and dividends, and $1,200 from Wellness Center income for a total of $2,195,344.

The proposed budget includes $756,730 for administrative expenses, $379,004 for the Community Health and Wellness Center, $103,000 for direct district care services, and $761,106 for community health contracts with North County Fire through three joint powers agreements.

That brings total proposed expenses to $1,999,840, which subtracted from the proposed income leaves $195,503, earmarked as net ordinary income.

Of the 24 items listed under administrative expenses, the majority – $334,346 – went for salaries. Likewise, the Wellness Center’s proposed budget had 15 categories with $178,367 for salaries.

The board has been operating with four trustees since Kate Schwartz-Frates, Zone 3 board member since 2018, announced she is moving out of the area and resigned.

Directors Salmon, Barbara Mroz, Schwartz-Frates, Jennifer Jeffries, and Stephanie Ortiz voted at the April 13 meeting to ask community members to apply for appointment to this seat until it opens for election later this year. The deadline to apply for the position was May 17 and as of last week only one applicant had completed paperwork for the board to consider.

A public hearing will be held May 27 at 5:30 p.m. to consider the applicant(s).