The Pasadena Public Health Department’s (PPHD) proposed budget for the next fiscal year is at $20.381 million – $5 million less than this year’s budget of $25.381 million.
The decrease stems from the loss of grant funding, Pasadena Public Health Department Director and City Health Officer Ying-Ying Goh said at the Public Safety Committee meeting held May 15.
“We have significant changes due to eight grants that are ending and two grants with reduced funding in fiscal year 25. The impact is a decrease of nearly 30 FTEs [full-time-equivalent positions]. 19 positions have already been vacant. Those positions will be eliminated,” said Goh.
“All … impacted staff were offered the opportunity to interview for lateral or voluntary demotion positions within the Department,” she added.
Still, a huge portion of the budget goes to personnel costs with an allotted budget of $14.280 million, lower than this year’s personnel costs of $16.636 million. Services and supplies will get an allocation of $3.628 million, $3 million lower than this fiscal year’s budget while internal service charges will get $2.472 million, similar to this year’s budget.
Among the divisions that get notable budget cuts is the Social and Mental Health Services Division. From last year’s budget of $6.492 million, it will be reduced to $4.036 million in fiscal year 2025, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department’s proposal.
It is unclear what programs will be impacted.
From $3.655 million in fiscal year 2024, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division will be getting an allocation of $1.800 million for fiscal year 2025.
The Community Health Services Division’s budget will also be reduced. The proposed budget for this Department is $3.927 million. The Department spent $4.680 million for this division in fiscal year 2024.
Due to decreases in grant funding, the Pasadena Public Health Department’s revenue is projected to be down by 25%.
Goh said the Department is anticipating a revenue of $19.320 million, which is $6.318 million lower than the $25.638 million revenue in the current fiscal year.
“A large portion is the ending of enhanced funding for epidemiologic functions such as those needed for COVID-19 pandemic response,” said Goh.
Goh said the Department will focus on stabilizing operations for the next fiscal year after a significant loss of grant funding and staff.
The Department’s future plans also include addressing much-needed building improvements and establishing an electronic health record system, among other things.
This year, the Pasadena Public Health Department provided support sessions to parents of young children ages two to five years to support kindergarten readiness. It has also immunized over 1,200 individuals with flu, COVID-19, hepatitis A and meningitis vaccines, among other vaccines.
Additionally, the Department has provided support for people experiencing homelessness, including over 4,500 meals, 1,500 showers, 700 loads of laundry, and 145 field-based health screenings.
Through the Department’s communicable disease prevention and control program, the Pasadena Public Health Department has also conducted over 4,000 communicable disease investigations, investigated over 100 outbreaks, and confirmed the first locally acquired case of dengue in California.
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