County’s finance flub leaves mental health agency unpaid

Lack of action by Whitman County’s now-defunct finance department has added another $56,414.54 to the county’s 2010 budget deficit.

Assessor Joe Reynolds informed commissioners Monday the county owed that sum to its mental health agency. For two years, the county has not paid Greater Columbia Behavioral Health for providing mental health services to the public.

“It definitely hurts us that much more in terms of budget,” said County Commissioner Greg Partch.

Whitman County’s budget is currently expected to finish the year $349,690 in the red.

When the county decided to contract its mental health services to Behavioral Health, Reynolds said, the county stopped dedicating a portion of its regular tax levy to mental health operations.

The contract with Greater Columbia was paid out of the county’s general operating budget.

The Assessor’s office had previously made sure the county’s mental health department was paid directly from tax proceeds.

When Greater Columbia was contracted, Reynolds said he contacted the finance department to make sure the expense was budgeted for and paid out.

“That never happened,” he said.

Partch said this situation is “a perfect example” of why the finance department was dismantled in June.

“Almost on a weekly basis we find things like this,” he said. “Things that just never got done.”