Health district approves $2.4 million budget

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Trustees of the Fallbrook Regional Health District approved a $2.4 million budget for 2023-2024 at their May 10 board meeting. A public hearing about the budget was held the previous month.

The major source of income for the budget is property taxes of $2.3 million. Other sources are interest, $73, 390; rental income/leased use, $35,601; program fees, $7,500; and Wellness Center income/events, $1,500.

Expenditures in the budget total $1.7 million for administrative expenses, including $739,780 for community health contracts. The expenses budgeted for the Community Health & Wellness Center was $687,574.

Board members had minimal input before voting unanimously to approve the budget. The 2022-23 budget was $2.2 million.

The board also heard a report about the activities of the Fallbrook Senior Center by Carmen Cervantes and Nickie Williams. In addition to proving information about the center, they said SANDAG has concerning details about the expanding senior population “as boomers get older.” Board members discussed the increased threat of senior homelessness later in the meeting.

Board President Bill Leach missed the meeting because of illness, said Rachel Mason, CEO. Barbara Mroz, vice chair, led the meeting. The other board members are Terry Brown, Mike Stanicek and Jennifer Jeffries.

Reports were given by the several board subcommittees and Mason noted the upcoming May 20 meeting of the Strategic Planning Group would be a workshop to review the mission, values and vision of the health district. There should be more conversation than action, she said, with also discussion about programs at the Health & Wellness Center and the process of the district’s grant program. The meeting is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The next health board meeting is on June 14 at 6 p.m. The public is invited to any of the meetings, Mason noted.