Less than a month from the initiation of the 2018-19 fiscal year, San Bernardino County officials last week made a mid-year $21 million adjustment to the 2017-18 fiscal year funding allotment to the county hospital’s budget.
On June 13, 2017, the board of supervisors adopted a resolution to approve and adopt the county’s 2017-18 budget, which included $603,514,451 earmarked for the totality of operations at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, which is the main campus of the county hospital. On December 5, 2017, the board approved the 2017-18 First Quarter Budget Report, which included a $5.3 million budget adjustments for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
On April 3, 2018 the board approved the 2017-18 Second Quarter Budget Report which included a $17.4 million budget adjustment for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
According to William Gilbert, the director of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, “Staffing and services and supply expenses at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center are funded by State Medi-Cal, Federal Medicare, private insurances and other departmental revenue. Funding sources may change in the future pending any legislative activity related to the repeal and/or replacement of the Affordable Care Act. Salary and benefits are increasing by $6.5 million, primarily due to increased overtime expenses caused by vacant positions and minimum staffing ratios required by California Code of Regulations Title 22. Services and supplies are increasing by $14.5 million due to unanticipated increases in other professional services, purchases of pharmaceuticals and various medical supplies.”
Gilbert requested the adjustment be made and said, “Both of these increases – staffing services and supply expenses – will be funded by State Assembly Bill 85 Rate Range Revenue.”
The board of supervisors authorized Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector Oscar Valdez to increase appropriation and revenue in the amount of $21 million for various labor and operational expenses.
–Mark Gutglueck