By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – Commissioners from Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick Counties aren't giving any extra money to the tri-county mental health referral service for now.
The Southeastern Center for Mental Health is about $3 million over budget.
At his annual update to county commissioners, Southeastern Center director Art Constantini told them there may be some unpaid bills at the end of the fiscal year and asked for help. Commissioners from all three counties want the state to pay that bill.
Constantini says the Southeastern Center will finish out the year by cutting costs.
"We will see that clients and consumers get the services that they need. It's just a matter of identifying funding bases that will allow us to include more services."
Constantini also told commissioners that North Carolina is considering consolidating the number of Local Management Entities statewide, which means other counties might join Brunswick, Pender, and New Hanover Counties on the Southeastern Center's list of areas served.
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