Mental health funding cuts could have wide local impact

Proposed spending cuts by the state will likely affect people with mental illnesses, meaning less people may be eligible for medical services and law enforcement agencies will have to help pick up the slack while also facing possible cuts themselves.

Texas is facing a projected budget shortfall for the next two years, estimated between $15 billion and $27 billion. Gov. Rick Perry announced Tuesday that he and House leaders have agreed to use $3.2 billion from the state's reserve fund to help close the shortfall in the current budget, but spending cuts have already affected the Permian Basin, with Odessa College, University of Texas at the Permian Basin and the Ector County Independent School District.

County Judge Susan Redford said the proposed cuts by the state legislature could impact the county’s budget, the sheriff’s office and prisoners needing a bed in a state hospital.

“Our fear is these people will end up in our jail rather than getting the services they truly need,” Redford said.

It’s a worry also expressed by Sheriff Mark Donaldson. Prisoners held in the Ector County jail who need mental health treatment might have to stay in jail rather than move to a bed in a state hospital.

“If they have no bed, they have to stay here,” Donaldson said.

Beds are already in short supply now, Donaldson said. Sometimes officers have to drive prisoners to state hospitals as far away as El Paso. Last year deputies drove 73 people to hospitals to be treated for mental illness.

Deputies may themselves see state funding for their positions slashed. The state partially funds three mental-health deputies in the sheriff’s office. In 2010, the deputies handled 775 calls. So far this year, they’ve handled 104 calls.

It’s unclear whether any state funding will be available in the future to fund the Mental Health Deputy Program.

“The continuation of this program will require the county to fully fund these programs,” Redford said.

Outpatient services are threatened for residents receiving medical care at the Permian Basin Community Centers. They stand to lose about $2.6 million in funding, Executive Director Larry Carroll said. The centers provide community-based medical treatment for state health agencies in Odessa, Midland and several nearby cities and counties. The impact may include about 900 adults not able to get the medical treatment they need.

“We’ve never seen anything like this, of this magnitude before,” Carroll said.

Carroll and other advocates of this funding visited with state legislators during the Midland-Odessa Day in February. Legislators were sympathetic, but they said there’s only so much money, Carroll said.

Donaldson said law enforcement will have to make do if the spending is cut.

“We’ll have to deal with them ourselves, which we’re not trained to do that,” he said.

Redford said the county will start budget talks in May.

“I’m going to strongly encourage the commissioners’ court to continue funding this program,” she said, referring to the Mental Health Deputy Program. “The need is so significant.”

The Midland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has scheduled a symposium on Friday at the Midland Petroleum Club. Panelists from the area will discuss the potential impact of the proposed cuts on the community.