PAOLA, Kan. – A controversy is brewing in Miami County after commissioners recently voted to ax a grant primarily used to buy contraceptives.
Commissioners voted 3 to 2. Those who voted for it say it’s a bad use of taxpayer money.
Commissioners Jim Wise, George Pretz and Danny Gallagher voted to exclude $9,000 in a grant request that primarily funds buying contraceptives for the county’s Family Planning Clinic. We tried contacting all three commissioners in support of the decision, but none have returned our requests for comment.
County administrator Shane Krull said it boiled down to how taxpayer dollars were being spent for the commissioners.
“The stated reason for voting not to include the funding was that the taxpayer dollar shouldn’t be used for the dispersion of contraceptives,” Krull said.
But Kelly Fritz, who volunteers at the clinic, says the federal money is earmarked for this specific program, so if Miami County doesn’t use it, it’ll just go elsewhere.
“So if we don’t get it, that money is already set aside for that program and it’s going to be going to another county or another place,” she said.
That’s exactly why commissioner Ron Stiles voted to keep it.
“The position I have with it, is that it met all the state’s parameters, and we’ve had it for years, and I supported it knowing it’s endorsed by the state. Basically it’s funding from them.”
Fritz says the program served 151 women last year. She said 116 did not have insurance. She said there is a misconception is the contraception is free, but said people pay on a sliding scale and some pay in full for the services they receive. She also said if the county loses the program, the county doesn’t have any safety clinics. Surrounding counties do, but Fritz said they don’t take out-of-county patients.
In addition, Krull said the move could have more impacts on the county. He said the county could lose a program that provides discounts for immunizations or vaccinations and the health department’s could lose its pharmacy license to distribute medication.
“It will have some effects but the governing body sets the direction for us so we’ll respond according to the new parameters that we have to work in and try to continue to run the health department as effectively as possible.”
Krull said the existing grant for the program will expire June 30.
About 100 county residents held a peaceful protest against the vote over the weekend in front of the courthouse in Paola. A small group residents who support the vote gathered near that protest as well.
