If the current state budget is signed into law, 49 health departments in West Virginia will have to operate with 25 percent less funding for basic health services, reports MetroNews.
The funding cut, proposed by Governor Earl Tomblin, came as a shock to many health department officials.
"We were anticipating a five, maybe 10 percent cut which would have hurt, but would be survivable," Lee Smith, MD, a health officer and executive director for Monongalia County Health Department told MetroNews.
Going forward, each health department has been charged with developing a contingency plan for absorbing the cut, should Gov. Tomblin sign the budget in its current form.
The Governor possesses line item veto power, making health services personnel hopeful the funding cuts may be reconsidered.
West Virginia lawmakers are expected to finalize the 2017 state budget in March.