Health Services Agency - Department of Environmental Health*

The department is budgeted for twenty-five environmental health inspectors. Currently, only nineteen positions are filled. Due to the vast geographic area and lack of staff, inspections are falling far below the recommended goal, as shown in Table 1. Recruitment and retention of qualified Environmental Health Serivce (EHS) Inspectors are hindered by the low prevailing wage in Riverside County as opposed to neighboring counties, as shown in Table 2. Table 1 - Fiscal Year 1998-99 Facilities TargetInspections ActualInspections % Completed Food* 4,670 63.5% 9,162 14,427 Pool/Spa 6,576 78% 10,282 13,152 (*This does not include produce stands, Christmas operations, seasonal non-profits, caterers, public school cafeterias, senior nutrition/summer feeding and commissaries.) Table 2 - Dollars SanBernardino Riverside Orange San Diego EHS IV No 38,408- 41,148- 42,042-53,690 Position 55,428 47,590 EHS III 36,208- 39,104-49,894 37,944- 44,034- 44,867 51,144 53,539 EHS II 40,082- 35,940- 33,299- 37,232-47,507 48,693 48,468 41,184 In addition, Riverside County employees must pay their own retirement for the first five years, which further reduces their take-home pay.

Permit fees are structured to cover the cost of the services they provide. The current fee structure has not been adjusted in six years.