Citizen’s Guide: Public Health Investment

Please Vote on Tuesday, November 6.

The citizens of St. Tammany Parish invest $2.9 million each year in public health through a dedicated ad valorem tax of 1.84 mills.  This millage will be before voters for renewal on November 6, 2012.

The largest expenditure from this fund supports Suicide Prevention in St. Tammany Parish. 

As you know, there has been a critical shortage of mental health services in southeastern Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina.  The closure or reorganization of Southeast Hospital will only raise the need for health services.

By providing facility support, the parish enables Community Health Centers to provide sliding scale fees for medical care to citizens in need.  This has become critical as many families have temporarily lost health care benefits while seeking new employment.

This life-saving millage is only $23 per year on a home assessed at two hundred thousand dollars.

Here is how your dollars will be invested in our community:

2013 Proposed Budget

Revenue:

Ad Valorem Tax     $2,962,746

Interest Income          $25,000

Mandated State Fees            -96,000

Total                          $2,891,746

Expenses:

Suicide Prevention:    $758,260

The St. Tammany Parish Suicide Prevention Initiative supports crisis counseling in partnership with the Volunteers of America through the 2-1-1 telephone system.  The Initiative also provides counselors and mental health professionals, at the request of first responders, to assist citizens in crisis as well as their families.  Follow through counseling, and suicide prevention education, are also part of this initiative.

Community Action Agency:   $467,688 

The CAA oversees $2 million in private and federal grants for emergency shelter, low income energy assistance, supportive housing, and weather proofing for fixed and low income citizens.

St. Tammany Community Health Centers- Facility Support: $259,342

St. Tammany Parish provides the facilities for two community health centers, one in Slidell and one opening in Covington in early 2013.  These centers provide sliding scale fees for health care for many families in the parish, including those whose primary insurance is lost due to changes in employment.

LSU Cooperative Extension Service:  $78,325

This is a state-mandated expense to support LSU Agricultural Services.

 Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness:  $227,065

These funds support emergency preparedness efforts for pandemics, hazardous materials, and critical incidents that may affect public health.  An example of this activity would be monitoring the effect of the 2011 Fish Kill on public health and safety.

Community Wellness Center:   $73,784

Facility support for the above Women’s and Children’s health facility operated at the Parish Fairgrounds by St. Tammany Parish Hospital

Fire Services:  $129,963

St. Tammany Parish Fire Services coordinates the work of St. Tammany’s fourteen independent fire districts to support fire safety.

Mobile Unit:  $51,775

The STP Mobile Unit is a refurbished RV that travels the parish providing health services including immunizations and health education.  The unit is also used as a mobile command center for tornadoes or other hazardous events.

Environmental Health:          $50,115

Sanitation permits

General Expenditures:   $412,548

These expenses include Facilities, Insurance, Emergency Generators and Legal Expenses.