On July 17, 2009, the FY 2010-2011 State Budget was passed. Reductions in funding to the community mental and alcohol and other drug addiction treatment systems are significant.
The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County is losing over $9.8 million (24.30%) in state funding for community mental health services and over $1.7 million (10.83%) for community alcohol and other drug addiction treatment and prevention services.
Advocates were told that the Conference Committee placed $65 million for mental health services above what the Governor proposed in his framework into the final budget. The problem is that no one is able to find the entire $65 million in the final budget:
- $14.7 million was put into the local health systems (505) line item.
- Another $14.7 million was moved from the community and hospitals (408) line item to the hospital operating expenses (609) line item.
- $36 million that was placed in a Medicaid appropriations line item actually is federal money that needs to be “drawn down.”
It appears all but $14.7 million of the $65 million that the administration and legislature say they put back into the ODMH budget above the Governor’s budget framework is “phantom money!”
In addition, the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) took an additional $31 million off the top of the 408 line item for hospital costs despite closing two state hospitals.
Governor Ted Strickland and Senate President Bill Harris have stated that lawmakers will be debating a budget correction bill in the near future, including the “phantom money.” Even with the entire $65 million, the behavioral health system in Ohio is inadequately funded.
Download a pdf of the FY 2010-2011 State Budget Bill Briefing.