Broome County, New York – The 2015 proposed budget of the Broome Executive indicates elimination of 21 positions from the adult Mental Health Clinic, which is operated by the Broome County.
At the county Mental Health Clinic, the elimination of 21 positions is at risk after Debbie Preston; Broome Executive has presented the 2015 budget plan. The adult Mental Health Clinic has been paying 30 employees, squeezing increased costs, and experiencing declining revenues all at the same time.
The clinic is composed of 7 administrative and 14 clinical positions. The clinical positions comprise of 5 full-time social workers, 6 part-time psychiatrists, and 3 part-time nurses who provide urgent care, attention and possible treatment to different patients in the clinic.
The salaries of those positions exceeded $335,000, which was almost 25% supposedly total savings of the county’s budget. This year, $1.5 million has been budgeted for the health department, compared to the $1.2 million budget proposal for next year.
The Mental Health Clinic has been considered by many patients in the county as their urgent care clinic, obtaining a sort of an urgent care near me relief, solution, and treatment for their health conditions. The cost-cutting of the county clinic’s budget has raised concerns among the locals.
Preston acknowledged that there was a difficult financial year, considering the state property tax cap decrease and the decrease in sales tax revenues, leading to limited options for the entire county. The budget proposal, alongside the elimination of 21 positions in the health department is believed to create a 2.5% increase in the tax levy. Preston also admitted the difficulty in decision-making while crafting the budget as people have come to rely greatly on health services of the county.
In the past, many officials had a hint on future plans of downsizing. Arthur Johnson, Mental Health Commissioner said he believed the clinic would close eventually. But he acknowledged that the county has been moving forward, thriving to provide services to its residents. Clients have also moved to other health agencies, however, Johnson pointed out that the clinic will still serve those who will remain with them. Through the years, there had been a significant shrink in the health services as other urgent care clinics and health providers have expanded.
The clinic’s closure plan was opposed by different entities, including clients, employees, and the union staff, as they argued with the benefits that the facility provide. Others suggested that the elimination of 21 positions in the facility will not equal the mental health services, while some denied the proposal as one of the options.
