Friday, September 13, 2013

Boone County family planning, health care programs in jeopardy - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

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The Boone County Health Department may not be able to reinstate women’s health services if it wants to remain in the black next year.

Services such as sexually transmitted disease screenings, distribution of contraception and pregnancy tests were cut during budget negotiations years ago, but officials hoped to bring them back. A projected shortfall might also mean there’s fewer county staff to help explain new health care mandates to residents.

Officials are projecting a $90,000 deficit in the department’s health fund for fiscal year 2014 if they run local programs at full strength.

 

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Boone County mulling renovation or new building for animal services - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

RRSTAR.COM

Most agree it’s an unacceptable sight, but county leaders aren’t sure if they can afford a remedy to the situation. The Boone County Board will decide next Wednesday whether to move the agency into to a new facility or fix up the current space.

“We’re very nervous about the decision. We don’t know if we should get excited about getting a new building or just deal with what we have here,” said Jacqui Mitzelfelt, programs coordinator and animal services officer for the center.

The problem will likely magnify if leaders don’t take action now. The facility is being used more than ever. Adoptions increased from 36 in 2010 to 120 in 2012.

Residents are now asking staff to offer cat adoptions, too, but the current facility is out of space.

County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said it would cost $600,000 to construct a new building based on a previous architect’s report. That’s not including the hiring of another animal services officer if cat adoptions become part of the operation.

He said there will be about $30,000 left in the animal control fund when the fiscal year ends Nov. 30.

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