The Greene County Board of Supervisors and the Greene County Board of Health met in a joint session Tuesday.

The two boards met to discuss services and funding for the county’s public health department. The department is currently housed at the Greene County Medical Center. The current fiscal year budget for public health is $920,769. The direct costs make up about $600,000, which is covered by revenues that the department generates. The main area of concern for both boards was the indirect costs that accounts for the other about $311,000.

Some of the items for the indirect expenses that the medical center provides include informational technology department, employee insurance, utilities, housecleaning and cafeteria costs. The 2015 and 2016 fiscal year indirect costs went from $183,787 to $305,716. For the current fiscal year, it is increased even more to $311,000.

The two boards discussed prioritizing the services that public health offers and how to handle the responsibilities for payment of the department going forward.

The next step will be for the Board of Health to make a recommendation about public health services to the Board of Supervisors before the beginning of the 2019 fiscal year.