Caledonia Argus

Human services reportsimprovement in fund balances

Posted: 10/23/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Fund balances in the Human services department are stronger than they were a year ago, the county board learned at its meeting of October 15.

John Schroeder updated the board on the budget for human services and reported that at this point last year, human services had dipped into its fund balances in the amount of $427,000. This year, human services has only had to take $64,000 from fund balances.

Increased revenue is the reason for the stronger fund balances this year, Human Services Director Beth Wilms told the board. The increased revenue, she added, can be attributed to the work of the staff and the fact that the department is fully staffed at this time.

ìWe are trying harder to capture existing revenue streams,î said Wilms. ìIt helps to be fully staffed, which allows us to do that.î

As of September 30 last year, expenditures were $2,869,703 with revenues of $2,442,689. As of September 30 of the current year, expenditures were $2,956,601 and revenues were $2,891,990.

Commissioners also looked at costs for substitute care in the county. As of September 30, costs for substitute care have totaled $581,515, or 83 percent of the total budget of $703,000. Substitute care includes foster care and out of home placements for juveniles.

In other business, financial services supervisor Bonnie Goetzinger reported that that U-Care Dental Bus will be visiting Houston County next year. The vehicle is equipped with three dental chairs and patients will be able to have a variety of services performed. The only cost to the county will be for electricity. The Dental Bus will be parked at the fairgrounds when it arrives in Caledonia. The Human Services Department and Public Health Nursing Department are working in conjunction to sponsor the visit.

The county board also approved the Minnesota Regional Coronerís budget request of $36,644 for 2003. Mike Poellinger of the coronerís office attended the meeting to explain the work of the coronerís office.

The coronerís budget is based on an anticipated caseload of 50 cases, which is five fewer than is anticipated for 2001. So far, there have been 48 investigations in the county. In Minnesota, all unwitnessed deaths are investigated (autopsies performed).

Poellinger told the board that the number of investigations could rise if there are changes in the way that deaths in home hospice care are reported. Currently, said Poellinger, ìhospice does a lot.î However, a bill was introduced in the legislature last session which called for spot-checking for drug theft in homes of terminally ill patients who die. The bill was prompted by a study conducted in St. Paul which revealed instances in which people caring for the terminally ill were stealing morphine from the patient. Such checks could place an additional burden on the coronerís office and the entities that support it.

Top of Page