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Mental health, addiction services merger talks postponed
Hamilton Journal News (OH) - 6/24/2014
June 24--BUTLER COUNTY -- Butler County officials are moving swiftly to get a mental health levy on the November ballot, but they are taking a much slower approach to deciding whether to merge the county's mental health and addiction services departments.
The mental health board approved a resolution for a 0.5 mill levy renewal -- that will not increase taxes -- last week, and the county commissioners are expected Thursday to agree to put the question on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Mental Health Board Executive Director Scott Rasmus told the commissioners last month his board was considering both a replacement and/or a renewal levy. The proposed 0.5-mil replacement levy proposal -- which would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $10 a year -- was discarded.
"It makes more sense for us at this point to stretch our existing funding through our levies as long as we can," he said. "There is a risk when you go for more money. Renewals tend to be easier to pass, typically."
Commissioner Don Dixon last month wanted the county to look into possibly merging the mental health board with the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Board. Butler County is one of only three counties in the state that do not have a combined mental health and addiction agency. Lorraine and Mahoning counties are the other two.
County Administrator Charlie Young said the county likely won't actively study merging until next year. The true impact of the Affordable Care Act, the extension of Medicaid and shrinking support from the federal and state governments are all factors that would have to part of a merger study. Those impacts are not fully known yet, according to Rasmus and Young.
"All those impact the future financial performance of both mental health and ADAS," Young said. "There's kind of a general consensus to let the smoke clear a little bit and get some more certainty on how things are going to fit together or how some of these things are going to impact delivery of service."
The mental health board's budget for 2014 was set at $12.7 million and there are eight staffers and an 18-member board. The board's funding comes largely from two tax levies and state and federal funding that continues to shrink. The bulk of the budget is spent paying external mental health professionals.
The ADAS Board's 2014 budget is $4.3 million, and there are five staffers and a 14-member board. The bulk of their revenue comes from state and federal funding, and like the mental health board, professional services is their largest expense.
Last summer Ohio joined 46 other states and combined mental heath and addiction services, according to Eric R. Wandersleben, director of Media Relations & Outreach for the new state agency. He said the state will save about $3 million in administrative costs over two years, and the move has allowed for the elimination of duplicate reporting requirements and policies and reduced barriers in billing and access to treatment.
"The decision to consolidate agencies has created opportunities for smarter, more efficient government and the creation of a system where there are no wrong doors, shared resources, and combined expertise," Wandersleben said.
The commissioners have said a merger cannot be made strictly for cost savings; the system must be improved overall. The demand for mental health services has grown exponentially. Clientele shot up from 5,271 in 2006 to 9,770 last year. Yet, state funding dropped from $4.3 million annually from 2007 to 2011 to a projected $860,043 in funding for next year.
Commissioner Cindy Carpenter said untreated mental illness has had a negative impact and added cost to Children Services, the courts, the sheriff's office and other arms of government.
"We need to think of this in terms of the big picture in regard to county government, and how we fund those programs that are safety nets," she said.
Young said another issue must also be considered: the mental health board has two tax levies that support services. Those funds cannot be co-mingled with addiction services, he said.
"We would have to make sure with different funding and the clarity that has to be in place of what's being spent for what, that this doesn't muddy the waters and make problems for the levy-funded activities," Young said.
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