Breaking News: Job Cuts Hit District Health Department No. 4 in Alpena – What You Need to Know!

ALPENA — The District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) has recently laid off its emergency preparedness supervisor and another employee. Lloyd Peltier, the chair of the health board, mentioned that more layoffs and furloughs might be on the horizon.

As of now, it’s unclear how many positions might be affected by these cuts. A furlough means employees are temporarily released from work due to economic issues or lack of tasks.

This situation arises after the department faced several challenges over the past six to eight months. Peltier noted they are awaiting a crucial audit of the department’s finances. He remarked, “It’s been far too long,” highlighting delays beyond what they anticipated.

In a meeting earlier this May, DHD4 Administrative Health Officer Denise Bryan conveyed that they hoped to finalize a budget by June. However, this could stretch to September due to expected cuts from state and federal levels.

To complicate matters, the department is currently without a finance director after the previous one resigned between April and May. During the May meeting, Bryan revealed that the finance team is reporting directly to her until a new director is appointed.

Health board member William LaHaie confirmed the layoffs, attributing them to budget shortfalls affecting the department’s funds. He expressed, “This is something that happens when you don’t have the money.” Despite the layoffs, LaHaie believes public health services will remain unaffected, stating, “They still have quite a big staff there.”

While Peltier confirmed one layoff, LaHaie suspects there might be two or three more. He admitted that his insight into daily operations is limited, noting, “I go to the meeting once a month.” Further details are expected at the next DHD4 meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Alpena office.

Data from a recent survey by the National Association of County and City Health Officials indicated that many health departments across the country are facing similar financial constraints. A whopping 62% reported cuts in their budgets, leading to layoffs and reduced services. This trend reflects a larger issue in the public health sector, where funding shortages increasingly threaten community health initiatives.

For now, residents will have to wait for more updates on the department’s situation and confirmed effects on public health operations.

For additional insights, you can refer to [NACCHO](https://www.naccho.org/), the National Association of County and City Health Officials, which provides valuable resources and statistics about local health departments.

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