Recent changes in local health department spending.

This study determined differences in U.S. local health department (LHD) expenditures between 1989 and 1993 and examined the factors that were associated with those changes. Adjusted to constant 1993 dollars, nearly half (48%) of the studied LHDs experienced budget decreases and 52% experienced budget increases. The median change in LHD budgets was 0.2% growth per year. Significant associations were found between the likelihood of a department experiencing a budget increase and several measures describing the LHD's administrative and economic environment.