Posted on December 17 at 1:40 p.m.

This is mean spirited and does not really make any point at all. What is the problem and why are we printing things that malign folks' names with no corrobarating evidence?? What is the actual issue this person is referencing that could be useful as a community conversation. What has happened to our values, as the writer asks, when we succumb to public maligning and name calling. Where is the mature dialouge on sincere differing perspectives on social issues in our community. The Independent should not print such accusatory letters that have no apparent basis.

On Trouble in Lompoc

Posted on November 29 at 9:12 a.m.

The County General Fund contributes 2% of the Mental Health Budget of over $70 million. My research into other county's budgets reveals that the range of general fund contributions to other mental health budgets range from the very lowest being 4% up to 20% accross California. The median being around 11%. The amount of funding that goes into the budget from the local government places the amount of Value the community places on these essential human services for our most vulnerable community members. Doug Barton says that he does not know if the County has the $$ to contribute to the mental health budget deficit......this is pattently false. The County DOES have the $$, it just CHOOSES not to provide that money to mental health as an expression of the County's VALUES. As a Director, Doug Barton's role is to champion the cause of people with mental illness by convincing the County and the community (voters) that funding is essential. All other California counties are experiencing the same decay of funding and services. I applaud the ADMHS Department, for over the years they have generated ALL the revenue that supports the services from State and Federal funds. All local funds that are provided to the Department are used to pay the County back for general services. It is essentially a "wash". So, in closing, yes there is a budget crisis. Much of it has been brought about by the current administration of the Department by capitulating to the labor union at the direction of Sue Paul to not require the staff to document (therefore, bill to generate the revenue), the declining Medi-cal penetration rate and rising perscription drug costs, the neglect of the general fund contributions and the administrative decision to not fill vacancies in the department that generate funding, especially on the children's mental health side where there are enormous opportunities for funding. This is matched with the mis management of the Mental Health Services Act funds and the fact that the Alcohol and Drug side of the Department are sitting on a $3million reserve that could also be used to shore up the deficit in these hard times. Incompetence is abound.

On Mental Health Braces for Budget Bloodbath