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Residents and providers urge Hays County to sustain mental‑health court funding
Summary
Dozens of residents, providers and alumni spoke during public comment to ask the commissioners to continue funding Hays County’s Mental Health Court and related supportive services as the budget is finalized. Speakers said the program reduces recidivism and jail days and asked commissioners to protect contract and housing dollars.
Supporters of Hays County’s Mental Health Court used the public‑comment period to press the county to maintain or increase contract funding and housing supports as the FY2027 budget is set. Jeff Thompson of Corridor Interfaith Alliance framed the request as a county budget priority, calling on the court to “make the votes that will help those most vulnerable.”
Former participants, defense attorneys and community providers offered personal accounts of program impact. Kenneth Medina Cyphers, a participant who credited the court with his recovery and family reunification, said, “They helped me to figure out what was wrong with me.” Defense attorney Salazar Shoner told the court he has seen clients who complete the program avoid reoffending and later reach out to thank him for the change the court enabled.
Program staff asked the court to fund specific contract amounts for participant services that staff say are already fully used; mental‑health court administrator Katie Matala told commissioners that a modest increase of about $58,000 would allow the program to sustain admissions and avoid suspending high‑acuity referrals. District staff and the DA’s office echoed that reducing these investments would shift costs back to the jail and court system: Landon Campbell (criminal‑division chief, DA’s office) warned that budget shortfalls would force officials to deny admissions to eligible defendants.
The court did not take a final budget vote during public comment, but commissioners said they would review requests during the budget workshop and follow up with staff presentations. County staff later noted specialty‑court revenue sources that might partially offset requests while cautioning that general‑fund capacity is tight.
