There was more bad budget news for Cowley County commissioners Tuesday morning.
They learned Cowley County Mental Health and Counseling Center is projecting a $41,217.98 budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.
“We want to provide the necessary treatment for people in our community, but we’re also cognizant there are other needs in the community that have to be met,” said commissioner Gary Wilson.
The county currently provides the agency $165,621 in mill levy revenue. The agency wants $200,000 – an increase of $34,379.
Linda Young, executive director for CCMH, said the center received a $14,000 increase in funding in 2001.
There were 63 employees in 2001. This year, the center employees 93 – a 63.2 percent increase, according to Young.
The annual budget in 2001 was $2,804,032. The budget in 2007 is $5,354.648 – a 103.8 percent increase.
In 2001, the center served 1,336 clients. This year, 2,213 were provided service – a 213.5 percent increase.
The payroll has increased from $1,476,086 in 2001 to $2,442,304 in 2006 – a 99 percent increase.”
At this time, the center only has approximately one month operating expenses in reserves, according to information provided the commission.
Some of the increase in clients is because many private inpatient facilities in the state have closed, which shifts the majority of the care for the mentally ill to community mental health facilities, the information states.
“Our primary focus is for mental illness,” Young said.
Commissioners are currently accepting and reviewing proposed budgets but will not make any budget decisions until all of the budgets have been submitted and calculated.
