Health District Budget Hearing

Draws No Comment

By Jan Howard

There were no members of the public present at a Newtown Health District hearing on Monday on its proposed 2001-2002 budget of $356,706.83.

Though the total Health District budget is up $5,220.79 over that of the current budget, there is a decrease in the borough and town assessments because of reduced costs of workers’ compensation and health insurance, according to Health District Director Mark Cooper.

The local assessment is $19,037.13 for the borough and $200,836.64 for the town as compared to the current budget assessments of $19,488.63 for the borough and $205,564.35 for the town, or a total decrease of $5,179.

The increase in the budget is in part because of anticipated increases in salary, which Mr Cooper said has to be negotiated with the Newtown Health District Employees Association. The projected amount for salaries is $237,346, up $13,136.20 from the current budget.

There are increases also in operating expenses, up $3,800.02 to $17,778.34, and contractual, up $1,768.49 to $16,768.49. There was no change in the budget items of transportation, $14,015, and legal/financial, $5,650, and decreases in contingency/fund balance, down $5,074.20 to $5,000, and social security, down $3,230.56 to $18,150.

There is a slight increase in anticipated revenues, including a state per capital block grant of $43,888.60, up $1,269.49, and a block grant of $4,129, up $529. The district also projects fees of $48,000, $3,000 less than this year’s budget because of an anticipated slowdown in construction.

Mr Cooper said $10,000 has been included in the town’s budget in the event it is needed for larvicides to combat the West Nile Virus.

“They did a fine job last year,” Mr Cooper said of the town’s Highway Department. “If we need it, the money is there from either the state or the town.”

The Health District’s Board of Directors is expected to meet within the next two weeks to finalize the 2001-2002 budget.