MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County officials authorized spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more for individuals who have been ordered by the courts for psychiatric evaluations.

During a meeting last week of the county Legislature, lawmakers approved a resolution to increase the Mental Hygiene expenses by $350,000. The legislation was not discussed during Wednesday’s meeting, but was discussed during the Human Services and Audit and Control committee meetings previously.

Trish McClennan with the Department of Mental Hygiene explained that if a person is ordered by a court to receive restoration services in an Office of Mental Health facility, then the county can be ordered to pay for all costs associated with it.

Mental Hygiene Director Carmelo Hernandez said the state used to pay for 50% but, as of April 1, 2020, counties are responsible for the full amount.

They had budgeted $150,000 for the evaluations this year, but asked that amount be raised to $500,000. The additional money will come out of the county’s contingency fund.

“I know for a fact that we have two individuals that are still in Buffalo Psychiatric that hopefully will be out by September but there’s no real sign as to when,” Hernandez said.

He added that the county is told when they go in but they’re not told how long they’ll stay. “They only time we find out when they come out is when we get the bill, which is unfortunate,” Hernandez said.

It costs the county $1,000 a day for each person to stay there.

Hernandez noted that the majority of the time the individuals who are sent to get a psychiatric evaluation are incarcerated, which increases the cost.

“If somebody orders it and they’re out and about in the street, it’s actually cheaper for us because we can contract with our psychiatrist here in Chautauqua County, which makes it easier and a lot cheaper,” he said.

The purpose for incarcerated individuals to get the evaluation, Hernandez explained, is to see if they are fit to stand trial or not.

Hernandez said there are groups that are lobbying the state to change this policy. “We need something because it’s not fair, especially to smaller counties, to receive this bill and we are 100% responsible,” he said.

In 2021, Hernandez said the county had five individuals who were sent for evaluation. So far this year, they’re already up to seven people.

Budget Director Kathleen Dennison said last year the county spent $122,000. “It was mitigated by there being fewer court cases,” she said.

McClennan agreed, saying that during COVID, courts weren’t ordering people for evaluations as much as they are now.

The full legislature unanimously approved of the increase.