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Legislature approves funded court-based mental health navigation position
Summary
The Health & Human Services Committee's resolution to create a fully funded court-based mental health navigation position for the county health department passed unanimously after members asked how the position would be sustained if grant funding ended.
The Tompkins County Legislature approved Resolution B to accept grant funds, create a court-based mental health navigation position in the Health Department, and complete a budget adjustment. Committee chair Travis Brooks described the position as fully funded by the grant at outset and noted the resolution passed BCP earlier.
Legislators questioned the long-term implications of creating a grant-funded position and whether the county would be required to absorb the cost if grant funds ceased. A committee member said the services were billable through Medicaid, and county administration staff noted positions are typically tied to funding sources in the financial system; draft hiring language would make funding contingencies explicit.
The legislature voted by recorded roll call; the resolution passed with unanimous support. Committee and administration members said they expect to codify long-term funding expectations in associated hiring and grant-acceptance language to prevent unplanned long-term budget impacts.
