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Board tables decision to keep MHDS staff on county payroll while regional system reorganizes
Summary
MHDS East Central Region requested that Benton County remain employer of record for one employee (Sarah) for fiscal 2026 and asked the county to transfer region‑owned assets to the new Disability Access Point (DAP); supervisors voted to table the employment and asset transfer request for two weeks pending legal and budget review.
Deb Seymour‑Guard, finance coordinator for the MHDS East Central Region and newly appointed CFO for the state’s Disability Access Point (DAP), briefed the Benton County Board of Supervisors on regional reorganizations and asked the county to remain the employer of record for one staff member for fiscal year 2026.
Seymour‑Guard explained that state legislation and administrative reorganization (including House File 2673 and prior funding changes) have moved behavioral health funding and operations away from the 13‑region model and into districts and a centralized DAP. She said the DAP awarded a contract for district 7 but Benton County is not included in that district; as a transitional measure the DAP asked counties to retain certain employees as employer of record for one year while an employer‑of‑record procurement is completed.
Request and assets: Seymour‑Guard asked Benton County to remain the employer of record for Sarah Wagner for fiscal 2026. "Sarah's wages and benefits will be fully reimbursed by the DAP with payments made prior to the start of every month," she said. She also requested transfer of region‑owned assets that were purchased or reimbursed by the region — specifically two vehicles (a Jeep Renegade and a Dodge Journey), one portable printer, one cell phone and possibly up to three desks — for use by the DAP hubs.
Board concerns and clarifications: Supervisors and auditor staff asked about payroll timing, insurance, liability and budget authority. The auditor staff explained Benton County will need spending authority in its FY26 budget to pay wages and then receive monthly reimbursement; the county attorney asked to review the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and asked staff to research the county’s liability for an employee working out of another county hub. Seymour‑Guard said the DAP would cover liability insurance and that the employee would be housed in Johnson County while remaining on Benton County payroll for the year.
Board action: A supervisor moved to table the request for two weeks to allow the county attorney, auditor and staff to review the MOU, payroll timing and insurance implications. The motion passed.
Next steps: County staff will forward the MOU to the county attorney for legal review, confirm budget/spending authority and confirm payroll/insurance handling, then return the item to the board at the requested date.
