| OCR Text |
Show I Tentative 1.8 Million Budgot Approved For County iental Health FARMINGTON - A tentative tenta-tive $1.8 million budget has been approved for the Davis County Community Mental Health Agency by its advisory board. THAT represents a 10 percent per-cent jump over the previous year's total of $1,674,000 and includes a seven percent cost of living increase for employees. In explaining the proposed budget, which must receive county commission approval after budget hearings are held next month, Mental Health Director Russell Williams said, "We're trying to cut somewhere it doesn't really offset the program." He noted that professional and technical expenses were down from $208,000 to $180,000. HE ADDED that the budget is based on a full staff of 58 although only 47 are on board now. And it doesn't leave much leeway for expansion. While the transitional treatment program has been budgeted to the tune of $118,000, the program has not been started and may not be in the near future depending on funds available. "We will either have to cut services across the board or something. We just don't have the money. We have a waiting list for out-patient services." THE FUNDING comes from federal, state and county sources, including about $700,000 while the state is supplying about $850,000 and the county $93,000. Patient fees and alcohol and drug monies will add another $180,000. Dr. Williams said patients with the ability to pay for services may be asked to request service from private sources or else county fees will have to be upped to comparable com-parable levels. HE SAID a psychologist can charge $45 to $50, a psychiatrist psychia-trist $35. a social worker $25-$30 while the highest fee paid for community mental health services is $32.50. Echoing the need to equalize fees was County Commissioner Ernest Eberhard. "We're entering a period where we are going to have to be comparable with providers so we don't get flooded. People are wanting everything for nothing." COUNTY FEES were set :-last :-last year with salaries for -mental health employees "in : about the middle" of the --', salary scale along theac: Wasatch Front, Dr. Williams said. Psychologists and'.' psychiatrists have been dif-::" ficult to obtain and those res- -; ponding for work are usually.;..' young and inexperienced, he' " added, tb |
