Published Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011 | 2:20 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011 | 8:15 p.m.
Sun archives
- Hundreds in Las Vegas, Reno protest budget cuts at town hall meetings (1-29-11)
- Proposed cuts leave Nevadans on both sides of budget debate (1-29-11)
- Business interests are lobbied over budget plans (1-27-2011)
- Sandoval to businesses: ‘Raising taxes the worst thing we could do’ (1-26-2011)
- Nevada ranks near the bottom on Milken’s Science and Technology index (1-26-2011)
- School officials warn of jobs cuts, larger classes under proposed budget (1-26-2011)
- School district warns of consequences if state redirects bond money (1-26-2011)
- Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget means job, service cuts for Clark County (1-26-2011)
- Soft words during State of the State hide Nevada in pain (1-25-2011)
- State budget heavy on cuts, light on solutions (1-25-2011)
- Teachers not pleased with most of Sandoval’s speech (1-25-2011)
Sun Coverage
Beyond the Sun
CARSON CITY – A parade of witnesses told a legislative subcommittee that cutting funding for mental health services as proposed by Gov. Brian Sandoval would result in more crime, homelessness and other problems.
Mark Burchell testified today that the mental health court in Reno “saved my life. It got me into a treatment program and out of jail.”
He said he was arrested four times in one month for sleeping in cars or in bus stations before being referred to the mental health court. He said there is a 77 percent success rate for those who go through the program.
Sandoval’s budget calls for counties to pick up the cost of these mental health court programs, rather than the state.
Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass told the budget subcommittee that reducing mental health programs means paying less now and more later.
She said some will end up in prison, and without available treatment they will harass tourists, break into homes and commit other crimes.
She said Clark County wouldn't pay for the program, adding that approving the governor's proposed budget would be a “death sentence” for it.
Harold Cook, administrator of the State Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services, said if counties don't pick up the cost of the mental health courts, his agency still has the obligation to provide the service.
Cook said his proposed budget is $612 million, down 12.4 percent from now.
It calls for the elimination of 175 positions, of which 80 are now filled. He said about 40 of those 80 have opportunities at other jobs, and he is looking to find employment for the other 40.
The budget calls for such things as elimination of the triage centers in southern and northern Nevada, the senior mental health outreach and psychosocial rehabilitation services.
Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said she was “very skeptical” about the reductions in the budget and she doesn’t agree with many of the decisions.
The governor’s budget calls for eliminating 22 beds at the Rawson-Neal mental hospital in Clark County.
Where there are reductions in programs, current patients won't be locked out. But it will be more difficult for patients to be admitted in the future if cuts are approved by the Legislature.
Bunchie Tyler, president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told the committee she knows there is going to be a fight over this budget. But she said the state mental hospital in Sparks is already turning away patients.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the name of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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