In addition to Medicaid funding, another significant funding source for CMHOC is the mental health millage which was passed in March 2016. In Michigan, only four counties have mental health millages, as state and federal funding for mental health care covers nearly all community needs. Those four counties are Ottawa, Jackson, Hillsdale, and Washtenaw. Under the Ottawa County mental health millage, for 10 years, approximately $3.2 million annually is collected from taxpayers depending on property values. In 2023, $4.1 million is estimated to be collected. According to the Mental Health Millage Frequently Asked Questions, the money allows:
“CMHOC to provide necessary treatment services to individuals who have no insurance or who have high deductibles.”
“CMHOC to continue to provide safety net services and programming including mental health treatment, employment services, psychosocial activities, jail services, preventions services and transportation for adults and children with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or severe emotional disorders.”
Source: April 24, 2023, board meeting packet
During the April 24, 2023, CMHOC meeting, Lynne Doyle, the Executive Director for CMH, explained that every year since the mental health millage was implemented in 2016, CMH has requested the maximum allowable amount be allocated to CMH, and they are currently requesting the full mil amount again. This is approximately .3 mils.
The images below show how this money is being spent.
In addition to millage money and Medicaid, CMHOC receives grant funding. Grant money is typically taxpayer money collected by higher-level governments, transferred to departments and government agencies, and awarded to lower-level governments, businesses, and non-profits to be used for specified purposes. During the April 24, 2023, CMHOC meeting, a presentation was given on the Michigan Adult Program where it was acknowledged that more grant money equates to more staff. While this could be beneficial to the community, we should really be asking how treatment is improved by grant funding.
There are too many grants to describe, so I will just mention one. The Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) grant is a two-year $3.8 million grant that was awarded to CMHOC in August 2021 for the purpose of providing coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care to anyone in need. Much more information on this grant will be shared in upcoming articles. Please stay tuned.