Background/Purpose of Request:
In the FY21-22 budget, the North Carolina Legislature allocated $36 million ($18 million per year) for communicable disease support to local health departments for FY22 and FY23. The funding amount allocated to each health department is based on a base amount of $90,000 plus an allocation based on county population. Brunswick County’s allocation totals $207,408 per fiscal year for FY22 and FY23.
These funds are in addition to existing grant funds already allocated to Brunswick County for non-clinical COVID-19 activities through AA-543 - ELC Enhancing Detection Activities, of which there is approximately $600,000 remaining and also available through FY23.
Based on these funding levels, Health Services would like to hire two temporary full-time positions to support ongoing communicable disease activities. The funding will support the positions for the remaining months of FY22 and for all of FY23. Previous attempts at hiring nurses through the NC Public Health Alliance has not proved successful due to a lack of employee benefits.
Staff recommends approval of the positions. |