County mental-health office raises Lacassa personal-care contract to $40,000; no county cost

Lawrence County commissioners approved April 14 an increase to an existing contract with Lacassa Personal Care Home to cover additional residents.

Scott Baldwin, director of the county’s Mental Health and Developmental Services office, told the board a few more clients are housed at the East Washington Street facility than anticipated, and the office seeks to raise the fiscal-year contract ceiling to $40,000. Baldwin said the funds will be paid from the human services block grant and will not impose a cost on the county general fund.

"We had a couple additional folks go there that we weren't anticipating. So, we're looking to increase that budget for this fiscal year up to $40,000. All paid out of the human services block grant funding. So, no cost to the county," Baldwin said.

Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the adjustment by roll call. The action allows the mental-health office to continue payments to the provider for client care under the existing contractual relationship.

The board did not provide additional contract detail in the meeting; staff will manage payments within the human services block grant allocation and report as part of routine departmental finance summaries.