Mental health board thanks community for renewing levy

By William K. Alcorn

The Mental Health Board’s Crisis Intervention Training program has 96 graduates.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Mental Health Board thanked the community for renewing its 0.85-mill property tax levy with the highest approval percentage of any mental health levy in the state.

The levy passed by a margin of 69 percent for and 31 percent against, said Toni Notaro, board administrator director, who coordinated the levy campaign.

“The main reason for our success is that we have great agencies that serve people every day,” said Ronald A. Marian, executive director, at the board’s November meeting.

The board has two local levies: The 0.85-mill renewed by voters at the Nov. 4 general election; and the a five-year, 0.5-mill levy. Together, the levies generate about $4 million a year. The mental health board’s fiscal 2008 budget was $17.3 million, Notaro said.

Marian said he is in negotiations with Forum Health and Humility of Mary Health Partners for in-patients beds for indigent mentally ill Mahoning County residents. The board renewed contracts with the hospitals at the fiscal 2008 rates, but the hospitals have asked for more money.

In fiscal 2008, the mental health board paid both HMHP and Forum Health $125,000 for inpatient care and $17,500 for psychiatric services, and set aside a pool of $50,000 to be split between the two hospitals based on usage at the end of the year. For fiscal 2009, Forum is asking $150,000 for inpatient care and not requesting money for psychiatric services. HMHP is asking for $175,000 for inpatient care and $17,500 for psychiatric services.

Marian reported that with the graduation of 21 law enforcement officials Oct. 31, the agency’s Crisis Intervention Training program had trained 96 local law enforcement officials on how to handle people with mental illnesses with whom they come into contact. It’s a great program, he said.

alcorn@vindy.com