Carver County Grapples with Unmet Mental Health Needs; Transportation Identified as Primary Barrier
A recent report by the Mental Health Local Advisory Council highlighted critical gaps in the county's mental health services, with access to transportation emerging as the most significant challenge for residents seeking care.
Carver County’s Mental Health Local Advisory Council (MHLAC) recently presented its annual report, revealing persistent unmet needs in mental health services, with access to transportation identified as the foremost challenge for residents. The report urged county commissioners to consider these critical gaps as they plan future budgets and mental health initiatives.
So, it's our job to review mental health in the county. We're supposed to identify any unmet needs and present them to the commissioners for consideration as they plan their budgets and their mental health plans for the county.
Pasco further elaborated on the council’s dedicated approach to identifying these service gaps.
Our goal is to find actual gaps, not gaps that the county has, but or perceived gaps, but actual gaps in the in the system that can't be met by other organizations that are already in place.
Among all identified issues, transportation consistently ranked as the most pressing concern for residents attempting to access mental health care across the county. This barrier impacts individuals' ability to attend appointments, participate in support groups, and connect with necessary resources.
Transportation. This is our most cited, biggest gap, biggest need. We hear this all the time.
The report also shed light on areas experiencing higher mental health call rates. Chanhassen, for instance, has the largest mental health client population, often necessitating travel to facilities in Waconia for services. Other communities such as Victoria and Watertown also showed elevated call rates. Commissioner Anderson noted that Watertown's figures were significantly influenced by a specific group home, a situation the city is already addressing, which may distinguish it from broader systemic issues.
Addressing these growing and complex needs often places a considerable burden on local government. The county faces ongoing challenges in funding and implementing comprehensive mental health solutions. Existing facilities, such as the First Street Center, are available but require further improvements to enhance accessibility and better serve the community.
It always seems like, especially at the county level, we're we're facing these cost shifts, burden shifts, uh trying to figure out, you know, how how can we take care of it because nobody else can.
As the county navigates its budget process, officials are tasked with balancing essential service provision against fiscal realities, a sentiment echoed by Commissioner Udman in broader discussions about tax rate increases. The MHLAC's findings underscore the urgent necessity for innovative solutions and sustained investment to bridge the identified gaps in mental health services, particularly in ensuring that transportation does not remain a barrier to care for Carver County residents.
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Votes (2)
Carver County Mental Health Local Advisory Council (MHLAC) Annual Report
Kayla Pasco, MHLAC Chair, presented the annual report, detailing current mental health data for Carver County, significant barriers to care such as insurance coverage and transportation, and the pervasive impact of loneliness and isolation. The report summarized community feedback and identified critical gaps in service provision. Key recommendations included sustained support for telehealth, establishing a dedicated mental health treatment space in the upcoming Chanhassen building project, and further enhancing the First Street Center's accessibility and suitability for mental health care. Commissioners engaged in a robust discussion, particularly on the threats to Southwest Prime transit services and the broader challenges of unfunded state mandates affecting mental health services.
County Administrator's Recommended Preliminary 2027 Budget and Levy
Dissent: Commissioner Udman stated he could not support the 8.5% increase, citing affordability concerns and the long-term financial implications of the proposed levy and capital projects.
County Administrator Mr. Hemsy presented the preliminary 2027 budget, outlining significant pressures including unfunded state/federal mandates (a projected 1.5% levy surcharge for 2027 and 2.5% for 2028), rising personnel costs, persistent inflation, and substantial capital needs for the Government Center and Chaska Library. He detailed eight strategic approaches to mitigate these pressures, such as adjusting service levels (e.g., cutting AIS inspections), maximizing external revenue, ensuring fiscal sustainability, and implementing personnel management tactics. Dave, from staff, further elaborated on 2026 trends, tax base changes, and specific budget adjustments, including the use of one-time funds to temper the 2027 levy impact while shifting some costs to 2028. Commissioners raised concerns about the long-term affordability for residents, the sustainability of county-funded state functions like the DMV, and the holistic capital planning for libraries.
Notable Quotes (8)
So, it's our job to review mental health in the county. We're supposed to identify any unmet needs and present them to the commissioners for consideration as they plan their budgets and their mental health plans for the county.
Our goal is to find actual gaps, not gaps that the county has, but or perceived gaps, but actual gaps in the in the system that can't be met by other organizations that are already in place.
Transportation. This is our most cited, biggest gap, biggest need. We hear this all the time.
Um, number two I believe was Victoria, three was Watertown, and four was Waconia. Um, I've since talked to Watertown. They have a group home in Watertown that [snorts] is a very high call rate for both medical and mental health issues. That's why their numbers have been driven up so high. The city is aware of that situation. So, you know, you can throw Watertown out of the statistics there if you want.
It always seems like, especially at the county level, we're we're facing these cost shifts, burden shifts, uh trying to figure out, you know, how how can we take care of it because nobody else can.
I did want to before you flip off this chart point out AIS inspections which is a very uh popular if nothing else service it is a difficult recommendation ation for me to make personally to as an environmentalist to to uh cut the and let me let me make it clear the inspection side of aquatic invasive species. We are I'm not recommending cutting the monitoring and ongoing education but one of the dynamics is that the first of all the state legislator legislature cut it h half of it. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. It's a top line item on our charts. So it's it's really the only only item that I could look at and go well this it's not a mandate. The state cut it and we can cut it right.
Too much for me is anything that leads to a tax rate increase. So um three years ago, uh I think it was a historic, at least one I've never seen before, 6.8% increase. Last year it was 8%. This year we started at 14.5 and whittleled it down which is good and encouraging to 8 8.5. But if we take the context of 114,000 residents, that 8.5% increase represents a doubling of your property taxes on the county line every 8 and a half years. I just don't think that's right.
I also think that the concerns of a library, not just in the isolation of a conversation with Chaza, and nobody loves our libraries more. If you look at our data, I'd venture to guess my family's probably used the library more than most people in this room. We have young kids. We value that. It's not that I don't value it, but we can't continue to not look at some of the data when we look at our solutions. Our library, our library usage has gone down 43% in the last decade.
Ordinances & Resolutions (11)
Statutory basis for MHLAC operations concerning children's mental health.
Statutory basis for MHLAC operations concerning adult mental health.
An assessment leveraged by the MHLAC to identify mental health needs in the county.
The plan guiding the $82 million Government Center building project.
A document reflecting the county's legislative priorities, influencing budget planning.
A plan developed in May that contributed to the current budget formulation process.
Federal legislation currently under debate, relevant to the SNAP cost shift issue affecting county budgets.
A document detailing staffing changes and allocations within the proposed budget.
General reference to documentation on one-time project funding.
Specific attachment outlining one-time funding allocations for projects.
A new attachment detailing one-time funding specifically for services.
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Carver County 2027 Preliminary Budget and Levy
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