Alcohol and drug treatment centers face budget cutback
By: Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Saturday, December 27, 2008 11:21 PM PST
ONTARIO —Providers of residential alcohol and drug treatment programs across Oregon are making their voices heard on Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s proposed 82.8 percent cut in the state alcohol and drug treatment budget, and among those impacted locally is Unio Recovery Center in Ontario, one of three such centers in the state Senate District 30.
The other two are in Baker City and Madras.
The cuts remove treatment programs for those who do not have Medicaid coverage.
According to a position paper prepared by the executive directors of the three recovery centers, the governor’s recommended budget eliminates all publicly funded adult residential alcohol and drug treatment in Oregon, including beds set aside for women and children.
“We have 60 beds including 12 ‘mommy-me beds,’ ” Brenda Story, Unio executive director, said.
The funding for the treatment center will end July 1 unless it is reinstated by the Legislature, Story said. All three centers will close if the governor’s budget is adopted, the trio of directors said in their statement.
“It will have to be the private sector,” Story said, when asked how the centers will stay open. The state money accounts for about 95 percent of her funding, she said. Besides Ontario’s 60 beds, Baker City will lose 28 beds and Madras 13 beds, for a total of 101 beds. Also, approximately 73 jobs could be lost.
Along with state general fund monies, Story and her fellow directors said with the loss of state cash, they lose the $8.9 million in federal matching funds. Also, Unio is paying on a loan and still owes $160,000.
The three noted that, while the funding for drug and alcohol treatment was cut over 80 percent in the governor’s budget, he only proposed cuts of 17.6 percent for community mental health programs and a 17 percent reduction for Senior Services.
