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Board ends Sea Level mental‑health contract and holds funds pending new partner
Summary
The Craven County Board voted unanimously May 19 to let the Sea Level contract expire in June and to hold funds earmarked for mental‑health services (including $349,827 for Trillium Health Resources) until a new partner is identified.
During the May 19 budget work session County Manager Jack B. Veit, III reviewed Health Department funding lines and staff recommendations for behavioral‑health contracts. Mr. Veit told the Board that the recommended budget included $349,827 for Trillium Health Resources and $50,000 for an Alcoholism ABC Bottles line that had been earmarked toward a Sea Level contract; he recommended the Sea Level contract expire in June and that the Board hold the budgeted funds until a replacement partner is identified.
Commissioner E. T. Mitchell moved to end the current Sea Level contract and to hold the budgeted funds as recommended; Vice‑Chairman Jason R. Jones seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The Board gave staff direction to hold the funds and to identify alternative providers or contract structures before re‑appropriation.
Why it matters: the held funds represent a significant portion of the county’s mental‑health contractual support in the recommended budget. Holding the funds pauses current expenditures while staff seeks another partner and preserves the Board's flexibility in contracting decisions for behavioral health services.
Next steps: staff will pursue candidates for a new vendor or partner and return with recommendations before funds are expended; the Board recorded the motion and will review proposals in a future meeting.
