City Council Votes To Pull Out of Of Mental Health Agreemen
The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to pull out of El Paso Mental Health Mental Retardation. City leaders said the move is about accountability.
“You have the city that’s involved, you have the county, you have the hospital,” Rep. Steve Ortega said. “So when you have dispersed responsibility, you have no accountability.”
The city said it will continue to help fund the agency through in-kind donations and Community Development Block grant money, but they said, ultimately, the county is responsible for the agency.
“State law mandates that the county assume responsibility for MHMR, so my preference would be that the county do this,” Ortega said. “But if they’re not interested, then I’m willing to entertain the city or University Medical Center assuming responsibility.”
El Paso County Commissioner Anna Perez said she was shocked by the vote.
“I think the county does have the primary fiscal responsibility because of the law, but the law encourages collaboration because of its overall effect community-wide,” Perez said. “I’m disappointed that they’re taking this position when they know it will impact the Police Department and quality of life.”
MHMR officials said the agency has been plagued by money problems and that a lack of funding will force the mentally ill population to crowd hospital emergency rooms and the jail.
Just one year ago, a divided City Council voted not to sever ties with El Paso’s mental health agency. Ortega said the only way to resolve the agency’s problems is by holding one entity accountable.
