Jackson County BOCC holds first budget workshop with the future of closed CGH facility discussed

The Jackson County Commission hosted its first Special Budget Meeting for the 2024 year on Monday, July 22. The meeting included overview and discussion of the county budget including department special projects, clerk of court, and Jackson County Fire Rescue, among others. The Jackson County Fire Rescue budget portion had several discussion points that affects Graceville citizens including possible future plans for use of the Campbellton-Graceville Hospital.

Chief Bruner spoke highly about the Narcan program and how many lives have been saved from having those items at the department’s disposal. He also talked briefly about the increasing maintenance cost for ambulances which includes an increase of demand of the county services. The budget went down about $3,000 not including special project requests. Things that have helped includes partnering with Jackson Hospital to outsource items such as IV fluid with Brunner noting, “We’re seeking out ways to drive down the cost.”

Overtime cost was also mentioned with the original budget noted as $450,000 but the department was over with an expense approximately $624,000 for that line item. Chief Brunner spoke about why there had been so much of an overage for overtime. He mentioned turnover and staffing issues as well as open positions, long distance transports, and public events. Commissioner Donnie Branch asked about staff number with Chief Brunner commenting there were currently four open paramedic positions at the moment. He continued that the department does have six EMT members that are scheduled to graduate in August, once they are moved to paramedic, Brunner noted they would then have to advertise for EMTs again.

Once overview of the budget was done, the group began discussing Chief Brunner’s Special Projects request. He asked for six additional firefighter/paramedic positions. Chief Brunner commented they have applied for a SAFER Grant to help with this funding but have not received approval yet. He noted that between 2022 to 2023 the department had a 1,000-call increase and on average sees a 6% call increase annually since 2015. He also added that working with the local Jackson Hospital, the numbers have also drastically increased in the amount of services needed. He stated, “We’re struggling a lot of days…we find that we are at what I call Status 0… no units available because of call volume…it’s real and it’s alarming.”

The conversation then turned to the Campbellton-Graceville Hospital and the concept of Free-Standing Emergency Rooms. He started, “One thing that should be on our radar is the old Campbellton-Graceville Hospital that is now owned by the Chipley Hospital.” He commented that after meeting with the CEO of Northwest Florida Community Hospital, he has learned that they have filed for a new Medicare hospital designation known as a Rural Emergency Hospital and “their plans is to try to open that back up under a new Medicare designation. So, this is a whole new guideline that the federal government has set forth.”

He went on to add that many years ago when CGH was open and call volume was around 5,000, the Jackson County Fire Rescue could easily handle both hospital’s traffic. However with call volume now increased to 11,000 calls annually with five ambulances, “We really would have to make some serious decisions, should we open up another hospital.” He continued that under the Rural Hospital Designation patients would not be able to be at the hospital for longer than 23 hours before the patient would have to be transferred out. He finished, “On paper a glorified free standing emergency room which means somebody is going to have to either transfer the patient out. So, I think that staying in contact… is definitely needed.” Patients are currently being picked up are being taken to Dothan, Chipley, or Dothan.

He finished on traveling, “Your runs are increasing but they are also getting longer.” He added, “Our longer distance runs are getting longer. Gainesville runs. So, we were averaging about 17 a year and we’ve already surpassed that number this year.”

The County Commission will be having Special Budget Meeting for the next two weeks with directors and elected officials speaking on their department’s specific budget needs. Meetings began on Monday, July 22 and continued through Thursday, July 25 with each meeting starting at 9 AM (except for Tuesday’s). This upcoming week the Special Budget Meetings will be on Monday, July 29 through Thursday, August 1 with each meeting starting at 9 AM. Meeting are open to the public and held at the Board of County Commissioners Board Room in Marianna. Those wishing to view the meetings online may visit the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/@jacksoncountybocc which will have each meeting live as well as archived videos after the meeting.

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