The financial mismanagement of the state health department is going to be expensive. Interim Department Director Preston Doerflinger say it will take an infusion of cash to stop the bleeding.
He is asking the legislature for an emergency supplemental appropriation of $30-million to pay bills and make payroll. There is no word on where the cash-strapped legislature will find that kind of money.
Doerflinger says “mission creep” brought on the department’s problems. He says the department took on projects outside of its core responsibility. Long time director Terry Cline has resigned.
Doerflinger referred questions about criminal charges to the Attorney General.