HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions 2005 (37) RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE TO PAY
THE COSTS OF PLACEMENTS
Resolution No. 37 (Ztx
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, Wisconsin counties are mandated by the state to pay the placement costs of
individuals placed in one of the two state mental health institutions — Winnebago Mental Health
Institute located in Winnebago, and Mendota Mental Health Institute located in Madison; and
WHEREAS, while the costs of these placements does not fluctuate drastically from one
year to the next on a statewide basis, the costs change dramatically from county to county each
year depending on one or two cases; and
WHEREAS, no county can accurately budget for the costs of these placements because
they are entirely unpredictable from year to year;, and
WHEREAS, there is no good public policy reason why the property taxpayers of St.
Croix County should bear this limitless risk every year; and
WHEREAS, the daily cost of a placement for an adult at Mendota Mental Health Institute
is $670 per day and at Winnebago Mental Health Institute is $645 per day; and
WHEREAS, an adult placed in one of these institutions costs one quarter of a million
dollars a year; and
WHEREAS, St. Croix County has had 20 clients placed at Winnebago and Mendota at
various times from January 1, 2005 through August 31, 2005 at a cost of $98,435; and
WHEREAS, human services departments across the state have a primary role in
providing community services to a large number of residents in need and the immense and
variable costs of placements severely reduces a county's financial ability to provide those
services; and
WHEREAS, in the April 2005 election, 85% of those voting in Wisconsin agreed that
these human services costs should be paid for with state tax dollars and not property tax dollars;
and
WHEREAS, additionally, the state approves the rate increases at these two state
institutions; the state would have much more incentive to examine the necessity of rate increases
if it was responsible for paying the costs of the replacements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors
that it calls upon Governor Doyle and the Legislature to create law which removes the costs of
placements at Winnebago and Mendota from the property tax.
Offered by the St. Croix County Health and Human Services Board.
NEGATIVE AFFIRMATIVE
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Reviewed by Corporation Counsel on , 2005.
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Greg Tjmmerman
This resolution was adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on December 13,
2005. / / }} )�
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Cindy Campbell, County Clerk