HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2024 (43)Resolution No. 43 (2024)
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO
ST. C ROI,X Cn,UNTY, PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND
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CRISIS SERVICES FOR COUNTIES IN THE 2025-2027 STATE BUDGET
1 WHEREAS, St. Croix County ("County") is concerned that the public human service
2 system in Wisconsin is in need of additional resources to respond appropriately to the needs of
3 individuals with persistent mental illness, those experiencing a mental health crisis, and other
4 human service needs; and
6 WHEREAS, state law designates counties with the responsibility for the well-being,
7 treatment, and care of individuals with mental illness and other human service needs, and serving
8 those without private insurance coverage; and
9
10 WHEREAS, the Medical Assistance program (MA) covers an array of mental health
11 services, ranging from office -based therapy to inpatient hospitalization, and many of these services
12 are delivered by counties; and
13
14 WHEREAS, Community Support Programs (CSP) offer intensive community -based care
15 for adults whose mental illness and functional limitations might otherwise require them to need
16 institutionalized care. Counties use CSP services to keep people out of extended hospitalizations
17 and support people in the community following emergency detentions; and
18
19 WHEREAS, counties are required to provide Crisis intervention services including an
20 emergency mental health services program to serve persons in crisis situations; at a minimum,
21 24-hour crisis telephone service and 24-hour in -person response on an on -call basis; and
22
23 WHEREAS, while the state pays the full cost of most MA services, when it comes to
24 county- based CSP and Crisis mental health services, the county finances the cost of the services
25 up front, and receives MA reimbursement for only the federal share for that service; and
26
27 WHEREAS, Community Aids and other human service funding has not kept pace over
28 the years with increased county costs for services, resulting in counties bearing a
29 disproportionate share of CSP, Crisis and other human service costs from county tax levy; and
30
31 WHEREAS, counties are limited in their capacity to use tax levy revenue due to state levy
32 limits, so the lack of state human service aids increases combined with strict property tax
33 controls makes it difficult for counties to maintain Crisis, CSP and other human services; and
34
35 WHEREAS, if human services were operated directly by the state, annual increases would
36 be provided to cover increased compensation costs for human services staff similar to the annual
37 compensation increases provided to state employees; and
38
39 WHEREAS, in addition to the costs to county human service departments, counties and
40 municipalities also incur law enforcement costs to transport and provide security for persons
ST. CR01X 9nU,NTY
Resolution No. 43 (2024)
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND
CRISIS SERVICES FOR COUNTIES IN THE 2025-2027 STATE BUDGET
41 in a crisis; and
42
43 WHEREAS, the awareness of the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has made mental
44 health assessment and referral more readily available, resulting in more demand on the mental
45 health crisis systems; and
46
47 WHEREAS, stagnant state funding results in variations in the extent of services available
48 across counties, wait lists for services, and eligible people receiving limited services; and
49
50 WHEREAS, the limited state funding for Crisis services makes it difficult for counties to
51 implement new evidence -based services, such as mobile crisis workers that could meet law
52 enforcement officers in the field for crisis calls, that would reduce the need for law enforcement
53 involvement and provide a more trauma -informed response to crisis situations; and
54
55 WHEREAS, Wisconsin's counties continue to cover the costs of mental health services
56 for individuals who are not Medicaid eligible.
57
58 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Board of
59 Supervisors does hereby request that the state of Wisconsin, in its 2025-27 state biennial budget,
60 provide state GPR funding to cover:
61
62 - the full non-federal share of MA CSP and Crisis services, and
63
64 - annual increases to state human service aids to cover increased compensation costs for
65 human services staff.
66
67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Clerk is hereby authorized and
68 directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
69 State Legislators with a constituency within St. Croix County, and the Wisconsin Counties
70 Association.
ST. CRO0 a,.U;NTY
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Resolution No. 43 (2024)
RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE OF WISCONSIN TO
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND
CRISIS SERVICES FOR COUNTIES IN THE 2025-2027 STATE BUDGET
Health and Human Services Board Recommended 8-0
MOVER: Shawn Anderson
SECONDER: Lisa Lind
AYES: Shawn Anderson, Lisa Lind, Mike Barcalow, Deb Lindemann, Julie Smith, Dave Ostness,
Greg Tellijohn, Dr. Kathleen Findlay
EXCUSED: Cathy Leaf
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
This Resolution was ADOPTED by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on:
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Christine Hines, County Clerk