Exploring the Impacts of Public Health Funding Cuts on Local Health Department Operations in Indiana

ABSTRACT: Local health departments (LHDs) in Indiana are experiencing simultaneous changes in state and federal public health funding. The objective of this work was to understand LHDs' experiences with the impact of recent state and federal funding reductions on their operations, service delivery, and ability to advance federal and state health priorities. Of the 48 invited local health department staff from Indiana's District 4, 22 completed the online survey. Respondents represented a wide range of positions, including environmental health specialists, vital records staff, administrative staff, health officers, and more. LHDs in our sample experienced significant state and federal cuts, with most participants estimating that approximately 61%-80% of their department's entire operating budget had been or was expected to be reduced. A majority reported that at least 1 core health program had been cut or was at risk of being cut. Ultimately, the types of cuts experienced by LHDs led to reductions in personnel and programming, jeopardized key programs, and limited access for high-risk populations, thus reducing capacity for progress toward key federal and state priorities, including chronic disease prevention.