County board lays over requested audit into behavioral-health notification process after divided debate

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on July 24 laid over a request for a county-conducted audit into Behavioral Health Services’ handling of statutory notification requirements under Wisconsin statutes chapter 971, after an extended debate about timing and scope.

Supervisor Rowland, who introduced the audit request, said the action followed a case in his district in which an individual accused of a serious felony was not in a secure facility and that outside review was necessary to confirm whether county policies and procedures had been followed. He asked the county’s audit office to examine whether statutory notification requirements were met and whether processes should be changed. The audit request (file 25-480) was debated in public and at committee.

Opponents, including the chair of the county Mental Health Board (as reported in committee), urged caution and recommended waiting for an internal review. Mary Neubauer, chair of the Mental Health Board, told supervisors that the board and Behavioral Health plan to present their own policy review in September; she said the county’s comptroller auditors are not subject-matter experts in behavioral health and that an external audit could duplicate internal work or use county resources inefficiently. Corporation Counsel also cautioned supervisors about public remarks that could imply criminal guilt; the office reminded the board that the person who prompted the review had not been convicted and that public officials should be precise in language.

Rather than sending the request immediately to a full, county-led audit, the board voted to lay the item over to the next board meeting so members could review the Mental Health Board’s September materials and any internal Behavioral Health review first. The layover motion carried on a roll call of 9 ayes and 7 noes, so the board will revisit the request at its next regular meeting; supervisors also noted the county audit office’s current workload, including an ongoing MCTS audit, which may delay any future county audit work.

Why it matters: The requested audit would examine compliance with Wisconsin statute chapter 971 related to competency proceedings and statutory notifications tied to discharge from inpatient treatment. Supporters said the audit would provide an independent, county-level review to guard public safety and confirm whether notification lapses occurred; critics said the Mental Health Board’s internal review could address system issues more efficiently and that an audit should be launched only if the internal review reveals systemic problems.

Next steps: The Mental Health Board and Behavioral Health division will provide their review materials in September; the County Board’s audit office may be asked to proceed after members examine that material and decide whether a separate county audit is warranted. The board’s layover preserves the option for a county audit while allowing supervisors to assess internal findings first.