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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-1996 - IX-C 1 Orange County Board of County Commissioners Action Agenda Item No Z � Action Agenda Item Abstract Meeting Date: March 6, 1996 Subject: Realignment of Position in the Health Department and Increase in Hours for an Existing Position Department Public Hearing Yes No_X_ Health Department Budget Amendment Needed Yes No_X_ Attachment(s) Information Contact None Dan Reimer, Health Department ext. 2412 Telephone and Extension Number Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 227-3021 Purpose To consider increasing a one half time position in the Health Department to a full time position as a result of realigning resources within the DepartmenL Background The Health Department has identified the need for additional accounting technical support to manage the day-to-day operations of the department. Although a new position within the department has been identified as a high priority in recent years during budget deliberations, budget constraints has not allowed this new position to be added. To provide additional accounting support to meet the increasing workload and to provide necessary office backup, the Health Department has reassessed existing positions to identify if resources within the department could.be realigned. Last Fall a Community Health Assistant position, which is a one half time position, became vacant. A study of the functions of this position revealed that the major responsibility of the position was to check immunization records for the Schools. Checking the immunization records for new students entering the school system is the responsibility of the Board of Education. Last fall, while this position was vacant, the Schools worked with the Health Department to complete the immunization record review. Currently the Health Department is discussing with the Schools how the transfer of this function will be complete. The Health Department has experienced a dramatic increase in fee generated revenue. Over the past four years revenue has increased from around $293,000 to $1.85 million. In addition, the number of grant projects has increased from two to seven. Medical reimbursements have increased both in volume and in complexity. These changes have 2 significantly increased the workload of the Department particularly in the area of reporting and tracking contracts and grants. A full-time Accounting Technician will provide administrative/accounting support and result in the following outcomes: 4 Time and effort study required by the consolidated contract with the Department of Environmental Health and Natural Resources will be accomplished in a timely manner that will help maintain the flow of State funds to Orange County. O Provide for more timely and accurate monitoring of accounts to ensure better fiscal control and best use of local and state funds, fees, grants, and other revenues. O Realign work assignments to allow the administrative officer of the department to take on the responsibility of managing the local area network for the Health Department, manage the expansion in the number of personal computers in the department and manage the professional service contracts. 4 Provide for more careful monitoring of grant expenditures to ensure compliance with the granting agency reporting requirements. Last year, an administrative study conducted by the Personnel and Budget Departments supported the need to realign resources to carry out the accounting functions of the department. Funds to provide temporary accounting technical support were included in the Health Department budget to provide temporary support while existing positions were reviewed. The Community Health Assistant area of responsibility had previously been identified as a function that should be reassessed, to determine if a more efficient process could be used to review immunization records and, address the more basic question, whose responsibility is it to check these records? In Fall 1995, one Community Health Assistant position become vacant initiating the review of this function. This increase in hours, if approved would not impact the County budget. The current funding for the Community Health Assistant position, combined with the temporary salary funding in the department will cover the cost of increasing the 20 hours per week authorization for this position to 40 hours per week. Recommendation The Manager recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve the increase in hours for a vacant Community Health Assistant position from one half time (.5 Full Time Equivalent [FTE]) to full time (1.0 FTE). This position will then be reassigned to the Accounting Function within the Health Department.