NORWICH – Citing massive costs that have already surpassed its 2024 projections, Chenango County Behavioral Health Services is looking to expand its budget by nearly a half million dollars to meet mandatory expenses through the end of the year.

According to agency heads, the reappropriation is needed to cover expenses for its rehabilitation and detention program, a New York State mandated program that deals with individuals with mental illness who have been charged of a crime and deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.

Individuals in the program are placed in facilities overseen by the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) or Office of Mental Health (OMH), both of which can charge between $700 and $1,400 per day for the care of just one individual.

With individuals entering the program on a consistent basis – and some who have been in it for years – it’s an astronomical expense that’s only getting worse, says Chenango County Behavioral Health Services Director Elizabeth Warneck.

“We consistently see these requests for these evaluations. It’s an ongoing challenge that we have here in the county,” said Warneck. “And we don’t know how long these services are needed for an individual. We don’t have a predicted timeline.”

The agency earmarked $425,000 for the detention and rehabilitation program in its 2024 budget; but having overrun the budget by more than $53,000 half way through the year, it’s seeking an additional $400,000 from the Chenango County Board of Supervisors to cover costs through December.