By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

At Monday's Ellis County Commission meeting, commissioners heard from High Plains Mental Health Center, which is trying to compensate for considerable cuts in state funding levels.

At the end of the state legislative session, funding reductions for this year exceeded administration's expectations by more than $200,000, said board member Tom Drees.

"Community mental health centers feel like they've kind of gotten the short end of some of this," Drees said. "These are really substantial cuts when you look at the amount."

Budget cuts for this year total nearly $530,000. The current projection is another $623,000 will be trimmed for fiscal year 2010. Fiscal year 2011 isn't expected to be any better.

Based on these numbers, High Plains will see a budget loss of more than $850,000 when compared to its level of funding in 2007.

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services serves as the gatekeeping entity and distributes funds to other organizations, including community mental health centers.

SRS is working to prioritize mental health reform funding for uninsured clients who struggle with severe and persistent mental illness or are emotionally disturbed. This means not all uninsured clients would be funded or prioritized at the same level.

The health center's board and administrators have identified other possible changes, including continuation of a hiring freeze for non-essential personnel. When a psychiatrist recently resigned, administration made the decision not to fill the position.

Efforts also will be made to help qualifying clients apply for Medicare/Medicaid funding, and to intensify the fee collection process. Paid days off will be reduced for some employees, and after-hours pay for on-call therapists will be eliminated.

Drees said after-hours services still will be available, but only for crisis situations.

If the financial situation continues to deteriorate, additional policy changes have been identified.

High Plains could start charging for non-mandated services, such as public prevention and education events.

While administration hopes these steps will not have to be taken, it also is faced with possible staff reductions and raising service fees, so patients would pay a larger share of the costs.

Drees expressed concern that this option might deter some clients from obtaining the mental health care they need.

"People cannot pay more," Drees said. "So a lot of people will quit accessing the services."

In other business:

* Public Works Administrator Mike Graf discussed a five-year plan for the Kansas Department of Transportation's construction program. Three projects have been identified, totaling about $1.8 million, about $600,000 above the federal funding cap.

Commissioners approved submission of two construction applications for improvements to Old U.S. Highway 40 from Victoria to 280th Ave., and a bridge located northeast of Ellis.

* A change order in the amount of about $1,300 was approved for the Eighth Street bridge project to allow for a purchase of more steel.

* Health Administrator Butch Schlyer discussed nuisance complaints in Walker.

* Commissioners approved allocation of the county's special alcohol tax funds, with half benefitting DREAM Inc. and half to the Smoky Hill Foundation.

* Commissioners heard a monthly report from Emergency Medical Services Director Kerry McCue.

* McCue, along with County Counselor Bill Jeter, discussed a personnel matter in executive session.

* Commissioner Vernon Berens was absent.