Budget Problems Push Fresno County To Cut Health Care Positions

Fresno County will eliminate 37 positions in the county Department of Public Health as a part of mid-year budget cuts that county supervisors approved Tuesday, the Fresno Bee reports.  The board voted 3-2 in favor of the cuts.

Thirteen of the eliminated positions currently are vacant, and employees in nine of the positions will be shifted to other county jobs. 

Fifteen department employees will receive termination notices, but other positions might become available for them, according to Kathleen Grassi, assistant public health director for the county.

Edward Moreno, the county's public health officer, attributed the budget cuts to a decrease in state funding.

The majority of the cuts were in the California Children's Services program, which diagnoses and treats roughly 8,500 people in Fresno County younger than age 21 who have cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and other conditions.

Behavioral Health Cuts

The board also cut about $800,000 from the Department of Behavioral Health.