GARNETT — Anderson County commissioners opted Monday to withhold a $32,000 payment to the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center.
Anderson County is one of six counties within the SEKMHC service area, with each contributing funds to help pay fees for those who lack health insurance or don’t qualify for Medicaid. Each county is assessed a different amount based on the amount of “charity care” the mental health center provides for its residents.
The $32,000 is a portion of the $94,000 contribution Anderson County Commission approved in January for SEKMHC, the Anderson County Review reported.
Commissioners decided to withhold their latest payment after County Counselor James Campbell told commissioners they were under no obligation to actually fulfill that pledge, the newspaper said.
“I don’t like what’s going on here, and that’s the only vote we got,” Commissioner Les McGhee said, according to the Review.
The withholding comes as counties within the service area have reacted to outcries over executive salaries within the mental health center — pegged at $2.2 million for five executives, when counting benefits.
Allen County’s contribution — set at $149,000 for 2024-25 — will be discussed this summer as commissioners set the county’s 2026 budget.
Several of the counties, including Allen, have replaced their representatives on SEKMHC’s Board of Directors. The board directly oversees the salary for Nathan Fawson, the chief executive officer, but not that of the other executives.
The counties’ combined contribution — about $550,000 — is less than 1% of the mental health center’s budget.
Most of SEKMHC’s funding comes from Medicaid, as well as with income received from having recently acquired Ashley Clinic and its pharmacy in Chanute, a dental clinic in Yates Center and to a lesser extent by those who have Medicare and private insurance.
