The Department of Mental Health will see a budget decrease of six percent for fiscal year 2018.
The House adopted the conference report on the cuts Monday morning, 65-43, and a motion to reconsider was entered.
On paper, the cut is $14,381,861. However, officials with the Department of Mental Health said the impact is greater.
“DMH’s cut in general funds compared to FY17 levels, prior to the mid-year cuts that have taken place, is $14,381,861. However, the total impact of the FY18 DMH appropriations bill is an estimated $19,732,261 cut in general source funds,” said DMH spokesperson Adam Moore. “This impact is the result of the general fund cut plus a need to fund 2,515 Intellectual Disability and Development Disability Home and Community Based Waiver slots, which is estimated to be an additional $5,350,400 expense in FY18.”
“The ID/DD Waiver provides supports and services to assist people who have an intellectual or developmental disability in living successfully at home and in the community and is an alternative to receiving services in an institutional setting,” Moore added.
Moore said the $19,732,261 impact is likely to affect most general fund services except for the community expansion services and the ID/DD Home and Community Based Waiver slots that are currently funded.
Further impact, such as loss of workforce, is not yet known on the Department end, but from the House floor, Rep. Sam Mims said he expects hundreds of layoffs.
Related:
State agencies to suffer budget cuts
Budget panel meetings at the Capitol
