Comment on Change in Iowa mental health funding progressing

DES MOINES — Senate Republicans pressed ahead Thursday with a plan for the state to take over the cost of mental-health services now covered by property taxes, as Democrats questioned the state’s reliability and a key House GOP leader expressed caution about taking on a new spending commitment.Members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 10-5 along party lines to advance an overhaul of mental-health financing by shifting the cost of regional services from Iowa’s 99 counties to the state.The measure also would phase out the $152 million “backfill” to cities, counties and schools that was part of a 2013 compromise to replace local revenue they lost when commercial and industrial property tax rates were cut by 10 percent.“The reality is the current system is not sustainable, and we have to do better for Iowans.