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Campaign Unavailable We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit IFPTE Local 17.The short explanation of this alert was: Our public health system is at a crisis point, not only at Benton Franklin Health District, but across the state. With the health of our communities at stake, we cannot afford any more cuts. At Benton Franklin, the District's Child Care and also the Special Care Needs program have already been reduced and the counties across the state are proposing dangerous cuts to public health funding that would leave the health system unprepared for disasters and incapable of maintaining current services like providing child immunizations and protecting the safety of our food and water supplies. Public health is also our first line of defense in responding to bioterrorism and in disaster preparedness. The ability of our local public health departments to perform core functions has been drastically reduced since the elimination of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) in 2000. Since then, backfill funding for public health has been at risk in each legislative session and counties have had to take up the burden of finding adequate funding for these essential services. Facing budget shortfalls, counties across the state are now looking to slash public health funding even further, leaving our communities dangerously unprepared if disaster strikes. We must let county officials know that we will not accept any more dangerous and irresponsible cuts to public health funding. There is just too much at stake. It is absolutely critical that we have an adequate and long-term, dedicated funding source for public health.
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