Maricopa County this week finalized its budget for the next fiscal year. The county plans to grow its public health workforce.

“For the past year, we have dealt with one crisis after another," County Board of Supervisors chairman Jack Sellers said in a press release. The board said the pandemic has highlighted the need for additional investments in public health infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

The county’s public health department has been managing COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and vaccinations throughout the pandemic. In fiscal year 2022, the county will fund 30 new employees for that department.

The Office of the Medical Examiner responded to a record number of deaths in 2020. The county will fund additional staffing and equipment for that office as well.

The county’s $3.4 billion budget includes $439 million in federal pandemic relief funds.