The Archuleta County Board of Health held a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27, at which it unanimously approved Resolution 2026-03, approving the Archuleta County Public Health Department’s reserve fund policy.
Public Health Executive Director Ashley Wilson explained that the resolution would define the minimum and maximum amounts of reserve funds for the department to maintain, and the process for allocating any excess funds.
“The county does have their own fund reserve policy,” Wilson said, recalling last year’s budget approval that involved up to $45,000 of reserve funds to be used to cover a budget deficit. “I thought it would warrant a conversation to understand what’s in our current fund balance, and, as we move forward, where the board would like that target to be set.”
She noted that the department currently has about $485,000 in reserves, which are “primarily funds that came from the dissolution.”
Wilson also noted that the department’s annual budget is around $1.2 million, “and so we’re a little less than half” of the typical annual budget.
Wilson explained that she had reviewed other public health departments around the state and found that 15 to 20 percent of the annual budget is common as the minimum amount to be kept in reserves and 40 percent for the maximum amount to be kept in reserves.
Wilson also explained that the BoH can allocate how additional funds should be spent if the amount exceeds the maximum amount of funds the board chooses to keep in reserves.
She indicated that, based on some “gift funding” the department received this year, it is likely “that we will be well over our budget this year.”
Wilson mentioned that the reserve fund is now at a place where the BoH may not want to continue adding to it.
She noted that, according to a state study, about 25 percent of local health agencies have minimum and maximum balances defined.
BoH president John Bruss noted that other county departments have reserve funds, asking if the other department directors have the authority to expend those funds.
County Manager Longinos Gonzalez explained that the department directors discuss with the Board of County Commissioners before allocating excess funds.
Wilson mentioned that the purpose of a set minimum of reserve funds is for the department to be able to continue services in the event of a government shortfall or changes in funding.
She also mentioned that some of the maximum reserve fund levels in other agencies were “below my comfort level,” because if a public health emergency occurs the department would not have the funds to fill those gaps, “and so I think the maximum should be typically higher than one might see in a normal budgetary process for a nonprofit.”
Bruss noted that a wildfire event could be a situation in which those funds could be spent.
Wilson noted that her staff received overtime pay for attending meetings and responding to the Rio Blanco Fire this summer.
Commissioner Veronica Medina noted that 40 percent reserve funds would be about $480,000, suggesting the BoH define the maximum as a percentage of the yearly budget.
She also commented that just because there may be excess reserve funds, that does not mean the funds have to be spent.
“If we don’t have to use it … it should stay in reserves,” she said.
Wilson mentioned that reserve policies of other agencies similar to Archuleta County’s state that if there is more than three months of operating expenses in reserves, then the excess funds are dedicated to specific categories.
Wilson suggested that the BoH could define the maximum amount of reserve funds to be 100 percent of the department’s current year budget.
Bruss suggested 80 percent as the maximum, with Commissioner Warren Brown supporting that suggestion and noting that it would be double the minimum amount of 40 percent.
Brown then motioned to approve the resolution with the minimum amount of reserve funds to be set at 40 percent of the current year’s budget and the maximum to be 80 percent.
Brown’s motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Budget
During the same meeting, Wilson presented the 2027 budget, including multiple new position requests.
Wilson indicated the department has seen more revenue than expenditures.
“We are currently $7,000 above our budget requirement,” Wilson said, noting that is a “first” since the inception of Archuleta County’s Public Health Department.
Wilson explained that one of the new position requests for the Public Health Department is for a clinical services manager, “which is where I feel like the bulk of the need in the department currently lies.”
Wilson noted that managing the department’s clinical personnel has become more difficult and that is not in her background.
“So, it would be nice to have a clinical services manager who is a clinical person to help establish those policies, procedures,” she said.
Wilson also explained that this position would be able to manage the department in the event of a natural disaster or disease outbreak, mentioning that having two people on staff who can do that “could be potentially something we need.”
Wilson noted that the salary for this position would likely be around $82,000 “to get someone with appropriate credentials.”
She explained that this position is outside of the proposed budget, and that “we would have to get creative” by applying for some grants that could assist in covering the clinical manager’s salary.
In response to a question from Medina, Wilson explained that the clinical services manager position would allow the department to provide more screening and preventive care services.
“There is a high need for more management, which we can’t do unless we have a full-time practitioner on staff,” Wilson said, clarifying that the department would not be supplementing primary care.
She also mentioned that having a full-time clinical services manager could assist with setting up more services to be billed through Medicaid, such as immunizations and women’s health services.
“Those are all things that take a lot of time and energy,” Wilson said, “and those would be tasks that I would hope this person would do once they get on board.”
Wilson explained that the public health department is not trying to offer walk-in services that are offered at Pagosa Springs Medical Center or Axis, but that the department could “be the doorway for preventive screening measures and the low-level sort of things that help create the pipeline into those systems to get people care.”
Wilson went on to explain that she was also requesting two part-time community health worker positions.
“This seems to make sense,” Brown commented in regard to having multiple staff managers who are able to manage the department during a natural disaster or disease outbreak.
Medina motioned to approve the department’s 2027 budget, including the clinical services manager position and two community health worker positions, which was unanimously approved by the BoH.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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