A state senate bill that would shift mental health and disability services funding from county property taxes to a fully state-funded system was discussed by the Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr. informed that the Southeast Iowa Link board, an eight-county mental health and disability services provider, discussed Senate File 587 this week that passed in the Senate this month which has not been taken up by the House. Seward said he is unsure of where the funds for these services would come from if they are taken out of property taxes, “We need psychiatrists and psychologists down here, we can’t get them down here the psychologists and psychiatrists all go to the big cities because that’s where they do business and we need more assistance down here. Telehealth is helping a lot but that still costs us and we just can’t support it.”

Seward said he has written to all the area legislators about the bill and has so far received one response. Supervisor Richard Young stated it is “not a good bill.” The bill passed on a party line vote of 30-17. The Iowa State Association of County Supervisors and Iowa Association of School Boards has lobbied against the legislation, some organizations have filed as undecided including the Iowa Hospital Association and AARP Iowa, and many have filed against including the cities of Des Moines, Waukee, and Cedar Rapids.