Human Services supplemental adjusts adoption assistance, Fort Logan opening and youth placements

Representative Sirota summarized changes in the Department of Human Services supplemental, reporting several caseload-driven and timing-related adjustments.

He said there is a net increase of $4,600,000 total funds for adoption and relative guardianship assistance because the appropriation had been under-allocated relative to the entitlement. Sirota also described a $1,500,000 general fund reduction reflecting a delayed opening of the Fort Logan G Wing: the anticipated June opening is now expected in September, and the appropriation is reduced for the months the facility will not be operating in the current fiscal year.

Sirota explained other adjustments: a $570,000 general fund decrease for youth commitment contract placements tied to recent reversions (not expected to affect services), a $1,600,000 general fund decrease because a school mental health screening contract was awarded at a lower cost than budgeted, and reductions to Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act funding and to the circle program because of lower utilization.

Representative Titone asked whether the $1.5 million reduction implied an operating cost of that amount every three months; Sirota clarified the reduction represented shifting funding timing (funding initially budgeted for four months will now fund one month) and cited an anticipated ultimate ongoing operating cost of about $6,900,000 for the facility.