Tuesday, May. 11, 2010 By Brad Branan / The Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors today narrowly approved a cost-cutting plan that includes closure of the county’s only AIDS clinic.
The county will eliminate 47 public health positions, 15 of which are currently filled, by June 28. The cuts were requested by Public Health Director Edward Moreno, who said they were necessary to offset a projected $5 million budget shortfall in the fiscal year starting July 1.
Supervisors approved his plan by a 3-2 vote, with Susan Anderson and Henry Perea in opposition. Perea said the move will further reduce the county’s safety net for people in need of social services.
Anderson shared his concerns, and added that she thought the cuts should be discussed in upcoming budget talks.
Moreno said he wanted the cuts in place sooner so the county can experience the savings as quickly as possible. Otherwise, more cuts would be needed, he said.
The county will continue to provide testing for HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — but will stop providing testing and other services for other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. The end of those services worries some public-health advocates, who note that Fresno County has high rates for such diseases.
