COMMISSION TAKES FIRST STEP IN A TWO-YEAR NOTICE
On Monday, the Platte County Commission unanimously voted to terminate its participation in the Clay Platte Ray Mental Health Board (CPR).
It’s the first step in what is expected to be a two-year notice to end connection with the tri-county mental health board.
“This is an important first step to improving and expanding mental health services for Platte County residents and we expect that this action will actually result in increased funding for mental health services in Platte County,” commented Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker.
He continued: “This action will also pave the way for the formation of the Platte County Mental Health Board, which will oversee approximately $3 million annually in Platte County property tax revenue earmarked for mental health services in Platte County.”
When would the shift to Platte County mental health programming start?
“That’s to be determined I anticipate we will spend the 2026 program year in the existing structure but that the 2027 program year will shift to Platte County,” Fricker said at Monday’s commission session.
What changes will be made, will any existing mental health programs get cut?
“I anticipate our first year will look a lot like the program does today. I anticipate we will adopt the current programs in the first year,” Fricker said.
“We believe in the work that is being done by (Clay, Platte Ray Mental Health Board) to provide mental health services over the three county area, but we are concerned that our community is not receiving its fair share of that support,” said Allyson Berberich, Platte County First District Commissioner.
Berberich added: “This decision ensures greater local control, accountability, transparency, and efficient use of over $3 million annually in Platte County tax dollars dedicated to mental health services.”
For decades, Platte County has contributed significant funds to the Clay Platte Ray Mental Health Board, a tri-county collaboration serving Clay, Platte, and Ray counties. In 2025 alone, over $3 million was taken from Platte County taxpayers and given to the three-county organization, the county commission says.
In a news release, the Platte County Commission said persistent issues with Clay, Platte, Ray’s oversight and administration have raised serious concerns about the value of this partnership for Platte County residents.
According to the Platte County Commission, key deficiencies include:
*Lack of local control: With only two seats on CPR’s nine-member board, Platte County has limited influence over how its tax dollars are allocated and managed.
*Lack of transparency: For eight months, Fricker says he sought documentation to confirm that Platte County funds were being used for Platte County residents. After initial resistance from CPR staff, rudimentary reporting provided by CPR revealed that Platte County tax dollars have been subsidizing services in Clay and Ray counties, according to Fricker.
*No program evaluation: CPR lacks meaningful assessments of program effectiveness, leaving taxpayers without assurance that funds are achieving intended outcomes.
*Absence of financial audits: Despite managing a $10 million annual budget, CPR, a publicly funded nonprofit, does not conduct financial audits, undermining fiscal responsibility.
The discovery of these shortcomings led the commission to take this action to withdraw from CPR and redirect the county’s $3 million annual mental health budget to a to-be-formed Platte County Mental Health Board.
The county says this new entity will prioritize transparency, financial oversight, and services tailored to the needs of Platte County residents.
“By establishing a dedicated board, Platte County will ensure its tax dollars are used effectively to deliver high-quality mental health services to our community,” the county commission said in a news release.
