Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
A Review of the Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation's Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Shortfall
October 1999
Report Number 00-002
Overall Conclusion
The Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation's (Department) authorized expenditures for fiscal year 2000 exceed available revenues by approximately $30.3 million. In addition, the Department's fiscal year 2000 budget includes $10.4 million in carry forward funds from fiscal year 1999, but the Department does not have clear legislative authority to carry forward these funds.
Key Facts and Findings
- The Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation's (Department) authorized expenditures for fiscal year 2000 exceed available revenues by approximately $30.3 million. The Department has not consistently reported and accounted for Appropriated Receipts during the appropriation and budgeting process. As a result, legislators based their decisions on inaccurate information, which led to a budget shortfall of $30.3 million for fiscal year 2000.
- The Department's fiscal year 2000 budget included $10.4 million in carry forward funds from fiscal year 1999.
- The Department is committed to taking appropriate corrective action to address the budget shortfall and related issues.