Pawnee Mental Health Services is requesting increased funding for 2019 from Geary County.

A budget proposal submitted by Executive Director Robbin Cole asked the county commission to increase the support for community mental health to the state average contribution. “Currently in Geary County, Pawnee Mental Health receives funding of $3.98 per capita. The state average is $7.44 per capita. So I’ve asked them to reach that state average per capita contribution.” That would equate to a $128,213 increase. Geary County currently provides an annual funding contribution totaling $147,290 to Pawnee Mental Health Services.

Cole said an increase in funding could help by increasing the number of therapists that Pawnee Mental Health Services has working in Geary County. “By increasing then the amount of services that we were able to provide, by increasing the number of people that we could see and the amount of service that we provide to those individuals.”

The commission will take the budget request under review as they prepare the county’s spending plan for 2019. The budget request was received at the commission’s meeting on Monday at the Geary County Office Building.