Financing of public health today is the result of years of incremental decision-making, complex allocation methods, and a long history of categorical funding restrictions. This mix delivers inconsistent support across the public health system and causes some needs to go unmet. System-wide planning for stable funding is not possible within this current framework. The Finance Committee recognized this and joined forces with the Standards Committee to build a framework for stable public health financing using the Public Health Standards as its foundation. 

A system-wide approach had already been taken to develop the Public Health Standards, which sets an expected level of performance for the state» s public health system. The joint Finance and Standards Committee developed a cost model for meeting the Standards at 95 percent performance level» a level the committee members considered to be realistic. The final product is an estimate of the additional investment needed to meet the standards for public health statewide. 

To increase funding flexibility and maintain accountability, the Finance Committee identified ways to spend the system» s limited dollars more efficiently be examining the complex flow of categorical funds from the federal government to the state and on to local public health jurisdictions.

2005 - 2007 Priorities

• Review funding allocation