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Residents urge caution on proposed CMH conversion; commenters dispute claim state would absorb liability
Summary
Multiple residents told commissioners to slow plans to convert Community Mental Health (CMH) to an authority, arguing there is no clear evidence the state would assume financial liability; public commenters cited a Northern Lakes CMH $9 million deficit as evidence state assistance is not automatic.
Several residents urged the board to slow or reconsider converting Ottawa County Community Mental Health (CMH) from a county department to an independent authority. Commenters asked for a thorough, publicly available cost-benefit and year-over-year financial analysis before any structural change.
Becky Patrick told the board she found no evidence that conversion to an authority would shift financial liability for deficits to the state and cited a recent example in which Northern Lakes CMH reportedly ran a $9,000,000 deficit and reduced services without state assumption of that deficit. "The authority had to cut programs and laid off almost 30 employees," Patrick said, arguing the board should stabilize CMH finances and only consider conversion from a position of strength. Other commenters echoed requests for more published analysis and caution before restructuring.
The board is continuing the public comment process and collecting questions and materials on the county CMH Authority web page; county staff said they were updating that resource with incoming questions and answers.
