Mental health cuts opposed

CARSON CITY -- Increased crime, more homelessness and additional harassment of tourists will be the legacy of Gov. Brian Sandoval's plan to reduce mental health spending, two judges testified Tuesday.

"You either are going to pay less now, or more later," Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass told a pre-session legislative committee looking at Sandoval's proposed budget. "You will see these people ending up in prison, jails, emergency rooms, homeless, harassing tourists and breaking into homes."

She and District Judge Peter Breen of Washoe County criticized Sandoval's plan to end state support for mental health courts in Clark and Washoe counties, which each would have to cover about $1.5 million a year in costs if they continue the services.

Glass said there is no way Clark County will pay, leaving many mentally ill people to go without treatment and end up on the streets and involved in crime. The courts specialize in identifying defendants who have mental health issues, diverting them from jail to treatment programs that help reduce recidivism.

Breen echoed her comments, calling Sandoval's plan a "death sentence for mental health courts."

"Some of these people are disruptive and dangerous," he added.

Counties cannot cover the courts' costs because of other elements in Sandoval's proposed budget, Breen said. The governor has proposed taking $181 million in property tax revenues from the two counties while billing them another $80 million for services the state performs. About $121 million would be used to shore up higher education budgets.

Sandoval proposes a $5.8 billion general fund budget for the coming two years. His plan is 6.4 percent, $402 million, less than current spending.

The mental health courts will continue if the counties pay for them, state Health and Human Services Director Mike Willden said. The Legislature could order counties to cover the state's cost of providing treatment for people who appear in the courts, he said.

There also are "general mental health" programs available if the courts are disbanded , he said.

Willden oversees the state Mental Health and Development Services Division, which would get $617 million in state support in Sandoval's budget. That is a 12.4 percent reduction from the state budget set two years ago.

Reno resident Mark Burchell testified that Washoe County's mental health court saved his life.

"It got me out of jail and into a treatment program,'' he said.

Joe Tyler, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Nevada, expressed concern state government was returning to the 1991 session, when mental health spending was cut 40 percent.

"The economy is tough," he added. "I don't know what we are going to do about that. That's you guys' job."

At the hearing, lawmakers asked for more information about the mental health courts, including numbers of defendants served and the program's success rate.

Sen. Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said Nevada mental health spending per capita is already the lowest in the nation.

"I don't agree with your priorities at all,'' Leslie told Harold Cook, administrator of the mental health division.

Leslie and others said Sandoval intends to cut the number of people receiving outpatient mental health services to 2,765 from 4,075, and to end an autism program that serves 176 children.

"Where is the cost savings?" asked Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks. "These reductions will cost the state more down the road. It is illogical to me."

But Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, said the proposed cuts are "the result of Nevada's worst recession," rather than an attempt to devalue Nevada's mentally ill.

"I don't look at it as a cynical budget," he added "It's painful. What do we do? Prioritize. What's the answer?"

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.