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Pawnee Mental Health asks Riley County for 10% budget increase amid rising uncompensated care
Summary
Pawnee Mental Health, the regional behavioral‑health authority, presented fiscal year 2024 service totals and requested Riley County increase its annual contribution from $350,000 to $385,000 to cover uncompensated care and service growth.
Pawnee Mental Health presented commissioners with its 2024 community impact report and requested a 10% increase in Riley County funding — an additional $35,000 — to help cover uncompensated care and rising service demand.
Officials said Pawnee delivered nearly $19 million in services across its 10‑county service area in fiscal year 2024, including 9,080 duplicated client contacts and 6,121 unduplicated individuals served across programs. Within Riley County specifically, Pawnee reported providing services to 2,999 duplicated residents (2,294 unduplicated clients) and recording more than $1 million in uncompensated care for county residents. Audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024 showed an agency loss of $2,396,519; Pawnee attributed rising uncompensated care and workforce costs as drivers of financial pressure.
Pawnee asked Riley County to increase its annual appropriation from $350,000 to $385,000 for fiscal year 2026. The agency noted that Riley County’s per‑capita support currently ranks below many neighboring counties: county funding per capita and per client served lag regional averages. Pawnee said county contributions are applied locally and used to cover uncompensated care for Riley County residents.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about fund sources, city grants and how contributions are used. Pawnee clarified that city grants and federal/state grant monies fund specified programs and do not replace county support for uncompensated‑care costs. The board did not take an immediate vote on the request; Pawnee representatives said they were available to answer follow‑up questions and provided printed budget and program detail to commissioners.
Key numbers from Pawnee presentation • Total individuals served across Pawnee service area (duplicated): 9,080; unduplicated individuals: 6,121. • Riley County clients served (duplicated): 2,999; unduplicated: 2,294. • Pawnee uncompensated care (service area): about $4.487 million; uncompensated care attributable to Riley County residents: over $1 million in FY2024. • Pawnee request to Riley County: increase from $350,000 to $385,000 annually for FY2026 (10% / $35,000 increase).
Pawnee said the requested increase would be used to support uncompensated care locally and help stabilize service access during a period of workforce shortages and rising operating costs.
