HomeMy WebLinkAboutGovernor's Proposal to Eliminate $300 Million in Future of Public Health Funding (FoPH) - Letter of OPPOSITIONCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114,
slocity.org
May 31, 2024
The Honorable Caroline Menjivar
Chair, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health & Human Services
1021 O Street, Suite 6720
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Akilah Weber, M.D.
Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health
1021 O Street, Suite 4130
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Reject Governor’s Proposal to Eliminate $300 Million Future of Public Health (FoPH)
Dear Senator Menjivar and Assembly Member Weber:
The City of San Luis Obispo writes to strongly oppose the Governor’s May Revision budget proposal
to eliminate the entire $300 million ongoing General Fund Future of Public Health investment,
including $200 million dedicated to local health department workforce and infrastructure. We also
express opposition to the elimination of $52.5 million in Future of Public Health funds in the current
fiscal year.
The City of San Luis Obispo relies on the County of San Luis Obispo as the first line of defense against
public health threats in our community. For them to carry out this key responsibility, our community
relies on a highly skilled and specialized workforce. The public health workforce has faced significant
challenges over the past several years responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including burnout and
harassment by members of the public.
Future of Public Health provided the County with ongoing funding to rebuild its workforce and
infrastructure. We are dismayed by the Governor’s proposal to eliminate these vital resources. As we
continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, our country and state has experienced the tragic
impacts of understaffed and under-resourced local public health departments. California must
continue to support the governmental public health workforce and ensure robust and capable public
health departments.
It is for these reasons that our organization respectfully requests that your committee reject the
Governor’s proposed elimination of public health funding and maintain the ongoing $300 million
Future of Public Health investment.
Sincerely,
Erica A. Stewart
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc: Honorable Members, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee
Honorable Members, Assembly Budget Committee
Scott Ogus, Deputy Staff Director, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee
Elissa Wynne, Staff Director, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee
Marjorie Swartz, Principal Consultant, Office of Senate President pro Tempore
Christian Griffith, Chief Consultant, Assembly Budget Committee
Rosielyn Pulmano, Consultant, Office of Assembly Speaker
Anthony Archie, Consultant, Senate Republican Caucus
Kirk Feely, Fiscal Director, Senate Republican Caucus
Eric Dietz, Consultant, Assembly Republican Caucus
Joe Shinstock, Fiscal Director, Assembly Republican Caucus
Mark Ghaly, Secretary, Health & Human Services Agency
Tomás Aragón, Director & State Public Health Officer, Department of Public Health
Michelle Gibbons, Executive Director, County Health Executives Association of California
Senator John Laird
Assembly Member Dawn Addis