March 19, 2024

Iowa lawmakers question plans to close 2 mental institutions

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa lawmakers questioned Gov. Terry Branstad’s plan to close two of the state’s four mental health institutions, saying Thursday they were concerned about patient care and employment.

Mental Health and Disability Services Division Administrator Rick Shults, appearing before a legislative panel, said the facilities were outdated, costly and served only a small number of people.

But Democrats and Republicans at the meeting raised questions about the proposals.

“It’s painting a rosy picture of how we’re going to have all these crisis services, while we’re cutting money out of the system,” said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City. He argued that the cuts were needed to help pay for a property tax cut passed in 2013.

The governor’s proposed budget cuts funding for service at the Clarinda and Mount Pleasant facilities. Both are older institutions, dating back more than 100 years, which house a small number of psychiatric patients. Shults says the state will add more beds for psychiatric care at another center.

Mental health facilities in Cherokee and Independence will remain open. Substance abuse treatment provided at Mount Pleasant will be handled through programs in local communities.

The state would save nearly $8 million through the move. Money allocated to the facilities will end July 1, effectively shutting the centers down.

Shults says it wasn’t clear how many people would lose their jobs. About 150 work at both facilities, but some could get other positions with the state.

Legislators also asked what would happen to four elderly sex offenders who live at the Clarinda institution. Shults said the state will work to find to find facilities for those patients, but it was not yet clear where that would be.