A decades-old formula used by Barry and Eaton county officials to determine the share each paid to support the combined Barry Eaton District Health Department was difficult, if not impossible, to understand or explain. Barry County Commissioners have debated the allocations ratio for several years, looking for a clear, understandable and fair division for each county’s contributions.

 

The committee of the whole Nov. 1 voted to send a Memorandum of Understanding changing the method of funding of the health department to the full board with a recommendation to approve. Commissioner Ben Geiger, calling the division of funding “a long time mystery,” proposed the memorandum to change the formula and define percentages to use in the future that will go to the Eaton County Board of Commissioners for consideration.

 

Geiger said the present formula, based on taxable values and millage rates, would be changed to population density only, with Eaton County paying 63.3 percent, Barry County, 36.4 percent of the total budget.

 

“Barry and Eaton counties are on different fiscal years, resulting in Barry County acting last. The MOU determines each county’s annual contribution by calculating a monthly rate. This will allow both counties, and the health department, to know how exactly how much they will spend and receive,” he said.

 

The vote to send the proposal to the full board for approval was 5-2, with Commissioners Vivian Conner and Jim Dull voting “no” and Commissioners Geiger, Craig Stolsonburg, David Jackson, Jon Smelker and Howard Gibson voting “yes.”

 

“I’m pleased commissioners moved forward with my proposal to reinvent how Barry and Eaton Counties fund a joint health department. The current funding method doesn’t account for our different fiscal years, or different populations. I look forward working with leaders in both counties to finalize a better funding system for our residents,” Geiger said.//

 

Conner had several objections. She said the proposal was “way too vague….it should be fixed before it is moved on,” and she wouldn’t vote for something she didn’t understand.

Dull said he liked that the proposal would mean a stable budget but, “We’ve been told repeatedly we can’t do anything without the Board of Health doing it first…we don’t have that power.”

 

The Board of Health doesn’t set budget allocations of the counties, Geiger said. “This is this board working directly with Eaton County Commissioners.” With some discussion, the memorandum was changed to reconsider the budgeted amounts every January 1 by both commissions instead of a set amount for five years because sitting commissioners can’t obligate future boards to budgets.

 

The memorandum likely would change during discussion by both commissions, but the basic premise; allocation by population density, and defining the payment ratio remain the focal points of the memorandum. Geiger said.

 

Smelker, Jackson and Stolsonburg agreed with Geiger that the memorandum was “a good starting point” to “get the ball rolling.” No one would predict what the Eaton County Commission would do, however, Geiger said, “With the relationship we have with the board, I’m confident they will examine it and come back with tweaks.”

 

In 1966, the two counties merged its departments into a district health department and went to a cost sharing formula based on the apportioned population in the counties. Over time, it was modified to become a formula based on a proportionate share of gross taxes and millage.