Nonprofits could get St. Charles' help

Mental health providers in the Tri-Cities area that have had their funding gutted by the state found a therapeutic couch in St. Charles Monday night.

A city council committee approved boosted funding levels for 19 agencies at a total of nearly $725,000.

The total marks a $118,000 increase over the city's funding for those same agencies last year. The $725,000 is also about $62,000 more than the agencies even requested.

The unexpected funding boost was more than welcomed by agencies such as the Geneva-based TriCity Family Services. The not-for-profit organization provides counseling services to children and their families on a sliding fee scale.

The organization served more than 900 St. Charles residents last year. That accounts for about one-third of their business, Executive Director James Otepka said.

Like representatives from Lazarus House and the Renz Addiction Center who spoke before him, Otepka delivered a tale of state funding woe. Otepka said the state cut the grant that funds a large portion of his organization by 78 percent. The state payments the organization does receive sometimes arrive as much as six months late.

The lack of cash forced the not-for-profit to take out a mortgage on its office building.

"It would be an understatement to say that this year was adventuresome," Otepka said. "But we simply can't close our counseling programs. Ensuring our fellow citizens have good affordable mental health care is not only the humane but moral thing to do. Given the very real costs of not providing this care, it makes great economic sense."

With $200,000 coming its way from St. Charles taxpayers, TriCity Family Services would receive the largest funding allocation of all the 19 agencies receiving funds. St. Charles residents pay an extra property tax to fund the local agencies via a dedicated levy.

The city council must still take a final vote on the funding levels.

Saved: City council still has to vote on funding levels