2 weeks Ago By Dylan Brown / KFOR
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - For the first time, lawmakers can get some answers from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services on how much money is missing and why.Commissioner Allie Friesen sat before the House Committee on Thursday and started everything off by saying it has been chaotic and challenging times for their department. There is a $43 million hole in the budget for the department.
Commissioner Friesen said that they found out about a $63 million hole near the end of February but were able to bring that down to $43 million about six weeks ago.OK House announces new investigation into Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services"So the reality of our situation is that it's chaotic and it has been, and frankly, we are moving towards a much more stable, confident place as an organization.
I respect and empathize, but that may not be the current sentiment that each of you holds. And I hope that we can get to a place where we at least mutually understand where one another is coming from. So it will not be an easy process.
It has not been. It's been a very painful and arduous process for our entire leadership team," said Commissioner Friesen in her introduction.Recently, there have been contract cuts to certain providers under their department that caused concern.
Friesen on Thursday said that they didn't order the providers to make the cuts, but that the letters they sent out weren't worded properly. She said that now they are doing everything they can to get some of them back. A Request for Proposal was submitted Wednesday on behalf of the department that was asking for bids on providing services to people in the Tulsa area.
"We've got to get some answers before our constitutional deadline, the last Friday in May," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) ahead of the committee meeting Thursday.The room was packed with several lawmakers and several workers within the department, and those affected by the cuts. "Personally, as a leader, it is my responsibility to call out my own mistakes and hold myself accountable for them," said Commissioner Friesen at one point.
The department is in the hole around $43 million and more than likely will be asking for a lot more in their budget request. This time around, they are asking for $6.2 million in a supplemental request.
An ask that the commissioner said was needed to stop any more cuts."We have made mistakes, and we have tried to quickly own those mistakes as quickly as humanly possible. Some people are no longer with the organization, so the reality of our situation is that it's chaotic," said Commissioner Friesen.
Commissioner Friesen at one point said that to find the money to make up for the millions missing, she has laid off her staff. She then said that she was willing to cut from her salary."I'm happy to pull from my own salary to cover and ensure that people have patient care," said the commissioner.
There will more than likely be future cuts, but from where, we don't know. Commissioner Friesen made it clear that core services wouldn't take a hit.The meeting was put on hold after going on for three-and-a-half hours on Thursday.
It is set to come back next week, where several others are expected to speak..
