Coweta County commissioners March 3 went to bat for the county Health Department, voting unanimously to provide $70,000 to offset state budget cuts that would otherwise result in work furloughs.

Commission Chairman and Board of Health member Paul Poole said he wanted to help the department with its budget shortfall if possible. Poole said Coweta Health Department’s funding was cut 10 percent this year and had been cut each year for the past 10 years.

During the discussion, county administrator Theron Gay noted that state budget cuts due to the downturn in the economy come at a time when health department staff are busier than ever.

Poole made the motion to provide the funding. It was followed by a unanimous vote. Commissioner Randolph Collins prior to the vote questioned whether $70,000 would be sufficient.

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