More than 14,000 Utahns with mental health issues and 7,000 people addicted to drugs and alcohol would be among the hardest hit in a round of potentially massive cuts discussed at the state Capitol today.
Thousands would see a steep drop, if not elimination, in treatment in an effort to carve 15 percent off the state's 2010 Human Services budget.
The changes proposed are so severe that, in some cases, state law would need to be rewritten.
County officials predicted the dire numbers would have an instant domino effect, leading to more domestic violence, crime, foster care placements and drunk driving. Costs to the state would go up as mothers in residential drug treatment, for example, lost services, lost control of their lives and potentially ended up losing their children to state custody.
All of the proposals -- although preliminary -- are the first steps toward lawmakers finding a way to balance a budget that is $350 million short this year. But mental health and substance abuse officials question why their programs are being gouged while others remain fairly intact.
The proposal would reduce almost 80 percent of state dollars to local substance abuse programs. Federal dollars the counties receive as a "match" would also disappear.
"This is absolutely shocking to me," said Pat Fleming, the director of Salt Lake County's substance abuse division.
A proposed $8.6 million reduction in local mental health funding would be devastating, advocates said, affecting 14,100 out of 40,000 clients. Beds for 30 people with severe mental health issues would also be eliminated at the state hospital.
"We'll have chronically mental ill people who will gravitate to the jails and emergency rooms because that's the only place they'll be able to receive services," said Harold Morrill, the interim director of the Utah Behavioral Healthcare Committee of the Utah Association of Counties.
The elderly would also feel the blow when more than 8,000 seniors at risk for malnutrition -- too frail to manage their meals -- will no longer have someone bring them food at home. That would be the fallout from the proposed $2.3 million cut to the meals on wheels program.
"How is that decided, who will still get services?" asked Sen. Pat Jones, D-Salt Lake City.
Committee staff explained that would probably be determined at the local level.
State economists generate revenue estimates that guide budget appropriations. A 2008 revenue update resulted in a projected $350 million shortfall. Appropriations subcommittees met Monday to review possible cuts.
What's next?
The subcommittees will make recommendations to full appropriations committees.
