Ottawa County weighs converting CMH to independent authority as commissioners authorize strategy review

Ottawa County commissioners on Nov. 21 voted to direct the county administrator to develop a strategy and timeline to study whether to convert the county-run Community Mental Health (CMH) program into an independent authority, after a presentation that cited growing financial risk tied to Medicaid-managed care.

The board debated whether to begin that review in closed session before holding public hearings. A motion to go into closed session to consider counsel’s written opinion under the Open Meetings Act failed on a roll-call vote, but the board later approved, by voice, a motion authorizing staff to prepare a proactive plan intended “to minimize the financial risk to taxpayer dollars, retain quality employees, and ensure the continuation of quality mental health services,” with one commissioner recorded as opposed.

The briefing presented to commissioners said Ottawa County’s CMH may be facing a significant deficit for fiscal year 2024–25. "Right now, it looks like we have a $5,500,000 deficit," corporate counsel Doug…