Supervisors press DPH for more review of MHSA annual update; item continued to July 15

At a July 1 hearing, the Government Audit & Oversight Committee heard the Department of Public Health’s annual update to the county’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) three‑year plan and agreed to continue consideration so supervisors could review a 200‑plus page update in more depth.

Tracy Helton, interim MHSA director, described MHSA as a state‑regulated fund (a 1% tax on income above $1 million) that made up about 7.9% of the Department of Behavioral Health (BHS) budget in FY19–20 and supports 87 programs serving roughly 36,807 unduplicated clients that year. Helton highlighted new innovation projects and a five‑year, $5.4 million innovation product aimed at culturally congruent practices for Black and African American communities.

Several supervisors said the report did not, by itself, answer whether the city’s response matches need. “It feels like our house is on fire,” Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann said, urging more discussion of strategy and oversight. Vice Chair Connie Chan said she supports continuing the item to allow committee members to digest the report. DPH staff told the committee the state requires a board‑approved annual update by June 30 and that they would request an extension to allow further local review. After public comment criticizing timing and responsiveness, the committee unanimously voted to continue the item to the July 15 meeting.

The continuation preserves the department’s option to seek a state extension; the full board will consider the annual update after the committee’s follow‑up work.