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Consider Health Agencies Merger

Anyone with questions about whether the Steubenville and Jefferson County health departments ought to be merged should consult U.S. Census statistics.

During the past quarter-century, the county’s population has plummeted by nearly 13,000 people, dropping to 67,347.  The equivalent of a small city has been lost.

With the people went their contributions to the local economy and the taxes they paid to support government services. And many of them left when the steel mills that were the backbone of the valley for decades closed.

Steubenville’s population decline was even worse, proportionately. Since 1990, the number of people in the city has dropped to 18,219, down nearly 4,000.

Local officials are discussing the possibility of a merger. Their consideration is aided by a study from the Center for Public Policy and Health at Kent State University. It was paid for with a $50,000 grant obtained by the county health department.

John Hoornbeek, director of the center, told a gathering of local officials Monday that cost efficiencies could be achieved by consolidating the health departments. He added that there is some overlap in services provided by the two entities.

At the same time, Hoornbeek noted the city health department provides some services not available through the county agency. And, he added, “the city has certain obligations under state law.” That could result in expense to the municipality if it closes its department.

Obviously, Steubenville officials need to consider whether the city’s residents need public health services not provided by the county — and whether the municipality can afford to continue providing them.

Meanwhile, state officials should be looking at their regulations. It makes no sense for Columbus to block commonsense consolidations of local government agencies and services or to make them prohibitively expensive.

What is good for the people of Jefferson County, both inside and outside the county seat, has to be the primary priority. Still, declining population and resources make a merger of the health departments something that needs to be considered.

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