Rural health board discusses budget items

by Bill Boender

The Sublette County Rural Health Care Board held a budget hearing Wednesday, May19, at the Pinedale Fire Hall to review requests from both clinics and the Pinedale and Big Piney EMS groups.

All items requested were approved except the Pinedale EMS item for three digital cameras at $1,050. Board Member Mary Lynn Worl felt there might be legal problems with taking pictures of accident victims without a signed release. Board Member Bill Barney also questioned the likelihood of use when those present should be assisting victims rather than taking pictures.

A preliminary budget entry of $6,107,240 for construction of new clinics and ambulance barns was removed from the budget and replaced with a $1,200,000 building project entry, as the balance will not come from health care district funds, but will need to be in the form of grants and funding by the Sublette County Commissioners.

There was considerable discussion about the level of commitment that the commissioners had offered at a recent meeting as funds can't be utilized until they are actually allocated to the project.

Board Member Jerry Jensen suggested that no funds be committed until they have a firm figure on funds available from the current mill levy. Barney added that he would be inclined to be parsimonious with requests for funding from other agencies in the county who have requested some $63,000 in financial assistance.

The next budget hearing will be set at the regular June meeting.