BERRIEN COUNTY OPPOSES STATE MENTAL HEALTH RESOLUTION, SUPPORTS PET FORFEITURE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Commissioners are making their feelings known on two statewide issues. Commissioners approved resolutions opposing changes to mental health funding as well as supporting a bill requiring pet owners charged with neglect to forfeit their animals or pay for their care.
The two resolutions were among the items on last week’s county board meeting agenda. Commissioners held their final night meeting of the year at the Michigan State University Extension Office on Hillandale Road outside of Benton Harbor.
The mental health funding issue was highlighted in a presentation to the county board in late July. Riverwood Mental Health Authority Director Ric Compton told commissioners about what could happen if the current proposal to change state funding for mental health care is implemented.
He warned commissioners that the upcoming change in how mental health authorities are funded could mean less care for people and less local control for area organizations.
Compton noted that Riverwood has served thousands of people in its 50 years of existence in Berrien County. Riverwood provides outpatient therapy and other services for the developmentally disabled and those suffering from mental illness, substance use disorders, and other problems.
Compton told commissioners that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced in March that they were changing how mental health services are funded and governed in the state. The switch from the current system to the new plan is expected to take place Oct. 1, 2026.
One part of the restructuring involves consolidating 10 Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans around the state to just 3. Riverwood is currently part of the Southwest Michigan Mental Health and Behavior Authority and would be part of a much larger authority covering most of the Lower Peninsula outside of Detroit.
He said the change will mean that those who are currently served by mental health authorities–an estimated 400,000 or more statewide–would have a difficult time navigating the new system to get the care they need. In addition, there would be less local representation on the PIHP level by organizations like Riverwood.
As the resolution approved states, the fear is that the consolidation of the regional mental health organizations could result in managed care organizations assuming control over behavioral health services. If that happens, longstanding relationships among organizations and communities could be disrupted.
He told commissioners that efforts are underway to stop the MDHHS changes from going into effect, from lobbying legislators to pressure the MDHHS to forming coalitions to fight the changes in court. He said one bright spot is that next year is an election year for governor and the state may be hesitant to implement the new controversial rules.
County Board Chairman McKinley “Mac” Elliott said that the MDHHS move “defies logic in terms of a business mind” as larger organizations are known to be less efficient. “I hope someone can get the governor’s ear,” he said. “This seems to be a dumb plan, dumb with a capital D.”
The resolution will be sent to the Governor, the MDHHS and state legislators.
The other resolution concerned the fate of animals that end up in the county animal shelter when their owners are charged with abuse or neglect. Currently, there is a bond and/or forfeit process where Berrien County Animal Services often ends up paying the cost of caring for animals.
County Prosecutor Amy Byrd and Animal Services Director Ashley Herr told commissioners that the current process is not only costly and burdensome for the shelter but also leaves the animals in limbo if their owners don’t forfeit them so they can be adopted by other families.
The resolution approved supports the passage of two current State Senate Bills, 293 and 294. The proposed bills would expand state law that already has language outlining a more effective bond or forfeit process in legislation concerning animal fighting.
The two Senate Bills would require owners would have to pay a bond to cover the estimated $900 a month it costs to care for the animal at the shelter if their animals are not forfeited.
Copies of that resolution will be sent to the Governor, the Majority Leader of the State Senate, the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives and other counties around the state.
The county board will resume its regular meeting schedule this week with the Committee of the Whole meeting at 8:35 a.m., committee meetings at 9:30 a.m. and the Board of Commissioners meeting at 10:30 a.m. Meetings are held at the Berrien County Administration Center in St. Joseph and are also available on YouTube.