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Board approves MHSA plan update amid $110M revenue shortfall and program cuts
Summary
The board approved an updated Mental Health Services Act plan after Health Care Agency officials outlined a roughly $110 million shortfall in MHSA revenue and described program reductions and transitions; the vote was 4–1.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to approve an update to the county’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) plan after an extended exchange about funding and program transitions.
Ian Kemmer, behavioral health director for the Health Care Agency, told the board the county faces a volatile MHSA revenue stream and that updated projections showed the county about $110,000,000 below earlier projections. Kemmer said that the MHSA funding source is derived from a 1% tax on incomes above $1 million and that recent revenue shifts have reduced the county’s available MHSA allocation. As a result, he said, some prevention and capacity programs that previously had MHSA support must be cut or restructured; he added that other funding streams (including Medi‑Cal billing or Department of Health allocations) may be used where possible.
Vice Chair Katrina Foley and other supervisors pressed for program‑level clarity, including itemized descriptions of services being cut (for example, supportive employment and contracted transportation). Foley requested a board office analysis showing what each contract paid for and how affected clients would transition to other services. Kemmer agreed to provide additional documentation and analysis to the board.
After discussion the board voted 4–1 to adopt the plan update; one supervisor voted no. The board directed HCA to supply more detailed program descriptions, transition plans for clients and a clearer accounting of funding sources and timing.
