WIC official asks Commissioners for help on reduced budget

Linda Wagner, the program director for the Lincoln County WIC program, is not looking for charity but help in extending her budget.

Wednesday morning, Wagner addressed the Lincoln County Commissioners, seeking ways to extend her already reduced and stretched-thin budget.

“They cut nearly $16,000 from last year’s budget,” Wagner told commissioners. “I’m looking for ways to keep helping as many people as I can.”

The local Women, Infants and Children program, is administered from an office in the former McGrade Elementary School just south of Libby.

Wagner is seeking to reduce her expenses — phone, rent and other costs associated with her office at McGrade in favor of a lesser expensive rent closer to county administrators.

“I’d like to move back in with the Public Health Nurse. That would help,” Wagner said.

During her impassioned plea for assistance, Wagner explained her budget has been cut this year by $15,969, or about 19 percent from $83,933 to $67,964. 

“Our goal is to reduce our overhead,” Wagner said. “If the county has space, great. We want to reduce the impact as much as possible.”

Wagner said she runs her office as efficiently as possible, as it is only her and a nurse on the payroll.

Currently, she assists 373 participants in the program, but that number has been as high as 500.

“It fluctuates a little,” she said. “Things are real tough right now. What’s happening is we’re seeing a reduction because people just cannot make it here. There aren’t jobs, so they’re moving away.”

Wagner cautioned her participants not to be concerned about the overall cut in budget because it will not affect their benefits.

“We  receive funding on the number of people we help. If people think since our budget is cut, they won’t come in. They say, ‘I’ll let someone more needy take the benefits.’ That’s not correct. They should take care of themselves.”

The WIC office serves Troy participants on the second Thursday of the month, Eureka residents on the first, third and fourth Thursday of the month and Libby participants on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wagner urged those who may need assistance to contact the WIC office at 293-5711.

“This is my baby,” Wagner said of the WIC program. “I’ve been here for 17-1/2 years. It’s important to me.”