Article Summary:

The Will County Health Department is asking for a $1 million increase to its property tax levy to save 11 critical jobs that are at risk as post-pandemic federal grants expire. Officials warned that without the funding, core programs for maternal health, immunizations, and communicable disease control will be severely curtailed, returning the department to a “weakened system.”

Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Key Points:

• Several federal grants that funded 15 public health positions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic are ending.

• The health department is requesting a $1 million levy increase to retain 11 of the most critical staff members, including nurses and disease investigators.

• Without the funds, officials said the homebound vaccination program would be eliminated and services for high-risk pregnancies, HIV/STI testing, and outbreak investigations would be significantly reduced.

JOLIET, IL – The Will County Health Department is requesting a $1 million property tax levy increase to prevent the loss of 11 employees, warning that expiring federal grants threaten to cripple essential public health services.

Health department officials told the Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee on Thursday that temporary grants for respiratory surveillance and workforce development, which were established during the COVID-19 pandemic, are ending. The loss of this funding places 15 positions in jeopardy. The requested $1 million would preserve 11 of the most critical roles, primarily in the Family Health Services division.

“The pandemic showed us what a stronger public health system could look like,” said Elizabeth Bilotta of the Will County Health Department, quoting a national health official. “Public health threats are not going away. They were returning… to a more weakened system.”

Sylvia Manise, the Director of Family Health Services, outlined the specific programs at risk, which she described as core foundational services.

The Maternal Child Health program stands to lose three full-time nurses. These nurses provide case management for high-risk pregnant women and medically fragile infants, offering education and connections to community resources. Manise shared the story of “Baby Rosie,” a medically complex infant whose life was potentially saved when a visiting county nurse recognized respiratory distress that had been missed by a pediatrician and urged the mother to go to the ER.

The Immunizations program is at risk of losing two nurses, a manager, and a clerk. This would eliminate the department’s homebound vaccination program and force a reduction in appointments at its Joliet, Bolingbrook, and Monee offices. Manise noted the department is the county’s only provider participating in the adult immunization program, which offers free or reduced-cost vaccines to uninsured adults.

The Communicable Disease (CD) program could lose half its staff—four investigators. These staffers are responsible for investigating disease outbreaks in schools, nursing homes, and restaurants, as well as conducting contact tracing to stop the spread of infections. Manise stressed that this program serves the entire county population.

Finally, the HIV and STI program could lose two nurses and its manager, which would cut back on testing, outreach, and linkage to care for HIV-positive patients.

“Decreased funding will result in decreased services,” Manise said. “When we lose these services, we’re going to be sent back to pre-COVID times. And that’s not good for anybody in the community.”

Denise Bergen, Assistant Executive Director, explained that the department’s last levy increase was for $1 million in 2023, and before that, a smaller increase was approved in 2018. She noted that while the department’s budget has grown 48% over the past decade, its levy funding has only increased by 14%, with grants and fees covering most of the growth.

The request sparked questions from committee members. In response to a query from Jim Richmond (R-Mokena), officials confirmed that for population health programs like disease control, they treat individuals regardless of residency status to stop the spread of illness in the community. Julie Berkowicz (R-Naperville) raised the issue of the state not fully reimbursing the county for costs associated with providing services to children in DCFS care, asking that it be added to the county’s legislative agenda.

Committee member Kelly Hickey (D-Naperville) summarized the department’s position. “What I’m hearing you say is that the programs that you’re highlighting here are an ounce of prevention instead of a pound of cure, and I hope that we can find a way to support this,” she said.