The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working hard, but a slimming federal budget has strained finances, state officials said Wednesday.

“We are, as you might expect, going through a lot of soul searching about what we want to do and how we’re going to get it done,” said Ron F. Hammerschmidt, director of environment for the state.

Hammerschmidt and other KDHE officials gave Lawrence an update on where the massive, complex state department stood Wednesday. It was the last stop on a statewide KDHE public speaking tour.

In general, officials said, the department is healthy, rolling out environmental and health initiatives statewide.

But funding has become a concern, they said.

According to the department’s budget, federal funding has dropped more than $10 million since fiscal year 2005. Federal funding makes up more than 61 percent of the department’s budget.

However, state funding and fee funds have more than made up the difference, the records show, increasing the total department budget more than $7 million during the same timeframe.

The department also issues millions of dollars in loans every year, Hammerschmidt said.

Still, environmental projects are moving ahead, he said, including watershed restoration, curbing illegal dumping, using hidden cameras and drafting permits for new power plants in western Kansas.

Howard Rodenberg, division of health director, said that health programs are also moving forward.

Those include curbing smoking statewide, improving diet and promoting activity – all parts of the Healthy Kansas initiative.