Mental health director reports positive finances, proposes staffing changes for 2027 budget

Sharon MacDougall, Mental Health Director, told the committee that billed productivity is expected to increase as the school year begins and that the department is currently ahead when comparing actual revenue to expenses. She said fourth‑quarter payments — including a 2.6% COLA on OMH and OASAS State Aid and billing‑rate increases — produce an estimated total that is "expected to exceed $275,000."

MacDougall outlined conservative assumptions for the 2027 budget (projected revenue up ~4.5%, expenses up ~3%) and presented transmittals to create two senior mental health clinicians while abolishing one clinician and one psychologist position, and to create a program supervisor while abolishing a supervisory social worker. Supervisor Ben Aman asked that specific salary and budget information be included in the bodies of those resolutions; the committee approved the transmittals 4‑0 as amended.