California Budget and Policy Center Issues Fact Sheet on Public Health Spending

The California Budget and Policy Center (CBPC) published a public health spending fact sheet that highlights the chronic underfunding of public health in California. The fact sheet details the California Department of Public Health as well as local health department’s critical role in protecting and promoting California’s health and well-being, and how funding has not kept pace with the cost of preparing for and responding to ongoing and emerging public health threats.

The fact sheet also highlights how public health departments were not adequately prepared to respond to COVID-19 as a result of the chronic underfunding. In addition, the fact sheet highlights the proposed investment of $300 million for public health infrastructure at the state and local level and emphasizes this as a critical first step in reversing the underfunding and protecting Californians.  

The CBPC fact sheet is available here.