MAHONING COUNTY Funding cuts planned for five health agencies

State funding to mental health boards is decreasing this coming fiscal year.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Mental Health Board plans to cut funding in fiscal 2003 for five of 22 agencies.
The funding reductions are necessary because of cuts in state funding, Ron Marian, mental health board director, said.
Marian said all county mental health boards received 1.5 percent cuts from the Ohio Department of Mental Health for FY 2003, and more reductions are expected.
The board adopted a $16.2 million temporary 2003 budget Thursday, which shows a small increase over projected spending for fiscal 2002.
He said actual funding levels should be known by September, at which time the board will adopt a final budget and the amount of the local cuts will be known.
The five agencies
Agencies slated for cuts are Burdman Group, Eastern Behavioral Health Center, Help Hotline, Meridian Services and Parkview Counseling, Marian said.
The mental health board receives its revenue from a mixture of state funds and two local levies totaling 1.5 mills.
The board authorized Marian to write to ambulance companies requesting rates for service after the board advertised for the service but received no bids.
The current ambulance contract with Clemente-McKay, through Parkview Counseling Center, will be continued until a new contract is approved. Marian said the new ambulance contract will be with the board of health.
The board is considering giving the former superintendent's house on the Woodside Hospital property to Family Service Board, which wants to relocate its Daybreak Program there. Marian said Family Service has a potential buyer for its Daybreak operation on Illinois Avenue.