Advisory council weighs emergency reserve, readies shelter RFP and approves jail safety upgrades

The Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council on an undated special meeting reviewed draft financial procedures that would set aside 10%–25% of community grant funding for emergent needs, heard plans to release an RFP for a non-congregate shelter, and recommended two budget amendments to improve safety in the county jail.

Marita, director of the Behavioral Health Coordination Department, told the council the behavioral health urgent care program has notified the county it will not seek renewal of county funding for 2025, and that change is likely to “free up about $700,750,000 for 2025,” a figure she stated on the record and did not further clarify. She said freed funds would stay in the same budget line as other contracted services and “would be able to go towards community projects this year.”

The draft financial procedures presented by Marita would reserve a portion of community grant funds each year as a pool for emergent needs; she recommended setting a range of 10%–25% of the annual community-projects budget as that reserve. “When the budget is made for community funds made available through the mental health and public safety fund, that 10 to 25% of those funds get specifically reserved for emergency procedures,” Marita said.

Members asked for clearer definitions and decision rules. Cassie (role not specified) cautioned the term “emergent” can be “a bit squishy”…