DECATUR -- The deadline for the Sequester -- billions of dollars in automatic budget cuts -- is tomorrow. That could impact mental health agencies in Decatur.
Heritage Behavioral Health Center has faced budget cuts over the past few years, forcing layoffs, reduced services and elimination of some treatment programs.
Bruce Angleman said cutting mental health services has a negative trickle-down effect in communities.
"The jail population goes up, and the number of emergency room visits goes up," said Angleman. "So we really begin to then tax the crisis services, the emergency services at the community level."
If the cuts go through, $3.5 million dollars will be lost statewide for substance abuse programs. However, Angleman said it would take some time before federal cuts reach the local level.
