NEW COUNSELING BUILDING ON TARGET

Construction of the Community Counseling Center's new, $1.5 million building is on target, despite state budget cuts that will affect the agency's programs.

Mati Stone, clinical director of the Community Counseling Center, explained that the capital project and the agencies services are funded separately.

The new facility, being built at 402 S. Silver Springs Road, is on schedule for a December opening date.

Stone said, "It's coming along real well. The concrete has been poured for the second floor. We're right on schedule."

Financing for the new building had been arranged and the loan approved long before Gov. John Ashcroft announced budget cuts last month.

It is funded through loans, federal grants and $200,000 raised by the center.

"We had already finished the fundraising, the capital campaign," Stone said. "Funding for the building is in shape."

However, funding for mental health services the agency provides is not in such good shape.

Officials with Community Counseling Center met Thursday to discuss the impact of state cuts on the private agency.

"We are gearing up for what we expect will be an increase in our case load," Stone said.

The governor cut $31.5 million from the state's mental health budget. That budget cut will result in a reduction in the number of beds at state mental hospitals.

As a result, more patients will be served in local communities.

"We are fortunate that the state hospital at Farmington, which serves Southeast Missouri, is not getting any reductions in their beds," Stone said.

But the agency expects to see an increased number of clients who would have gone to other hospitals.

"Really, we don't know what else might happen," Stone said. "We're anticipating having to try to manage more people in the community.

The Community Counseling Center already received a budget cut of $60,000.