Finances for the Washington County Board of Health have “nothing out of the ordinary,” board members learned during the monthly meeting on Sept. 24. The budget for fiscal year 2020-21, which went into effect July 1, is at 16.7%, reported Financial Administrator Peggy Wood.

The department receives 45% of its funds from a county subsidy, 16% from various grants, 9% from private fees, 22% from Medicaid and this year there was a $20,000 CARES Act award.

During the meeting, it was reported there were a total of 414 positive COVID-19 cases, but the increase is not linked to one definite source. Equally noted was reported further uses of masks and social distancing among county residents and that there have been no increases in county deaths in more than four months.

It was noted that the expected annual flu season likely will “show up” in October and that the department has a sufficient vaccine supply to get to the end of the year.

There was a brief discussion about the department being offered space in the former YMCA building in Washington. The city is currently considering uses for the downtown building, particularly for mixed use with several tenants. Rental costs is a consideration, noted administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski, as well as what kind of remodeling would be involved and who would cover costs. No decision was made.

The Environmental Health section of the department reported a balance of $73,307.37 and expenditures of $29,131.04, or 10.981% of its budget. Among Environmental Health’s income are inspection fees for area public swimming pools, which dropped this year when the pools were closed.