With budget season upon them, Allen County commissioners heard requests, and justifying presentations, from the District Court and Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center.
District Court support was pegged at $381,458 for 2017, less than 2015 but a touch more than 2016. The mental health center requested $120,500, a 3 percent increase over this year’s $117,000.
Dina Morrison, who manages day-to-day activities of the District Court, said the county’s contribution would be buffered by fees that flow to the general fund. She predicted 2017’s at $66,320.92, which, if on the nose, would leave the county’s net responsibility at a little over $315,000.
— Court-Appointed Special Advocates operated at $5,720 this year and its budget was projected with about a 10 percent increase, of $572. CASA volunteers represent children whose parents face court action. District Judge Dan Creitz said the program is “very successful” and more could be done if additional volunteers could be brought into the fold.
— With no major computer system upgrades anticipated, contracts in that area will be $16,000, a cut of $8,500.
— Juror costs are anticipated at $5,000, a $1,300 increase. Morrison noted a seven-day civil trial is scheduled in November and one or two high-profile criminal cases may find their way to court this year.
— Postage costs were put at $4,500, a decrease of $2,250. Use of email and e-filing have displaced documents previously mailed from the office, Morrison said.
— Costs of transcripts are expected to be $5,000, an increase of $1,000.
— Office equipment expenses were put at $10,350, an increase of $9,350. Main costs will be replacing a copier and a new sound system for the District Court room.
— No expenses were attributed to capital outlay, with security projects that cost $17,100 this year completed.
NATHAN FAWSON, director of the SEK Mental Health Center, described financial woes facing the agency.
“State block funding for our programs and services has continued to decline in the past decade,” Fawson said. Additionally, the state eliminated funding for Medicaid screenings, resulting in about a 50 percent reduction in reimbursement for traditional crisis services.
Effective July 1, Medicaid reimbursements will be cut further by 4 percent, which will cost the six-county agency $250,000 of its $8 million-plus budget.
“Like every other organization (affected by state funding) we’re not sure how to go forward,” Fawson said.
The second shoe to fall has been the Osawatomie State Hospital’s moratorium on admissions and a reduction of 60 beds. That has “delayed inpatient treatment,” Fawson observed. He added Osawatomie has 16 to 20 on its waiting list at any given time. A positive that may materialize is that the hospital has reapplied to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with hopes of realizing Medicare funding by July. The Osawatomie facility has lost $5.9 million after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determined the hospital had major safety issues and decided to end payments.
In July the agency’s Health Home program will be discontinued. Fawson said the program had been valuable because “it has demonstrated great health care benefits and cost reductions for those we have served the past two years.” He hopes grants or some other sources of funding may be identified to keep the program afloat.
