Buena Vista trustees weigh $61,000 request to support county co‑response behavioral‑health unit

Trustees of the Town of Buena Vista heard on Nov. 12 from county co‑response clinicians seeking $61,000 in the town’s draft 2026 budget to help sustain a behavioral‑health co‑response unit that pairs clinicians with deputies to respond to mental‑health and substance‑use calls.

“The number 1 goal of a co response program is jail criminal justice deflection,” Sarah, a co‑response clinician, told trustees, describing the program’s emphasis on on‑scene de‑escalation, short‑term case management and follow‑up to reduce repeat 911 use. Sarah said the program’s BHA (Behavioral Health Administration) grant award was $301,000 and that an anticipated Department of Justice grant (about $500,000 over three years) was discontinued, leaving a funding gap that the county and municipalities are negotiating to fill.

Dean, speaking for local law enforcement, said the team has been valuable to officers and that even a single co‑response call a week can free patrol officers to respond to other public‑safety work. “When we need it, it’s worth its weight in gold,” he said.

Trustees discussed how to accommodate the request. Finance staff listed budget shifts already identified: delaying an outdoor fitness project, repurposing $53,000 from a smart‑meter project to infrastructure rehab, and preserving airport priorities such as AWOS replacement and HVAC repairs. Several trustees proposed finding savings by trimming “nice‑to‑have” line items on the community‑support list — for instance, fireworks and economic consultancy contributions — while others cautioned that cutting community events may reduce sales tax revenue.

Betsy Dittmer, executive director of the Chaffee County Community Foundation, said a $61,000 town allocation would be used prudently through an expanded community grant process in 2026 that aims to coordinate multiple funding streams and prioritize programs serving Buena Vista residents.

The board did not take a final vote on the co‑response ask. Trustees agreed to continue the budget hearing to the Nov. 25 meeting and asked staff to return with options for fitting co‑response into operating accounts without unduly shrinking capital allocations.