The biggest bang for the buck > Rexroad.com

I admit it. I don't like the needle exchange program. I just never will think that is a good thing to do when we risk harming park employees and kids. So set all that that aside.

I ask you to just think about the best use of $100,000 annually. For me I would rather give 50 cents back to every Yolo County resident.

It seems that since I have been a Supervisor I have heard how much money certain programs save. It goes something like this -- "You should be happy to spent $x million here because we would have to save $5x million in the emergency room or [fill in the blank] if we didn't have this program.

So let's assume that I can't give the money back to the taxpayers and instead am forced to spend it on health care within county government.

I don't know for sure what the biggest bang for the buck is in terms of health care dollars -- but I have a good idea. I would rather spend the money on prenatal care or health care for kids. Even if you could convince me that the $100,000 on needle exchange saves $100,000.01 at some other place you will never convince me that spending this on prenatal care, health insurance for kids, or dental care for kids doesn't give you an even greater return.

So even if I set aside all my other issues I just don't think this is the best use of our public resources.

Comments

By griffith @ Monday, June 23, 2008 6:10 AM

Matt

How many needles are given out each year and how many are left over at the end of the year.

By Super K @ Monday, June 23, 2008 7:14 AM

Matt-

Spend it on a no-nonsense, no-frills, 1 day a week pediatric clinic. Just a dispensary at some public building.

Even better, if you can possibly swing it for $100,000, a mobile medical clinic. This does not need to be anything super-fancy. A van filled with supplies that goes to the outlying areas and parks next to a public building (school?) where patients will be seen.

By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, June 23, 2008 7:23 AM

I don't have the numbers here with me but from some reason I think that the number was 130,000 needles.

The contractor that is doing this job has to pay staff salaries and all that stuff.

I will check this number and get back to you.

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