Trust Budget
Trustees approve operating and capital budgets in two-year cycles, with annual recommendations to the governor and Legislature. While Trustees are authorized to spend Trust income without Legislative appropriation, they are required by statute to recommend to the governor and Legislature operating and capital budgets for state General Funds to support the Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program. The governor must then propose and the Legislature must pass a separate bill, known as the Mental Health Budget Bill, that includes budgets for Trust funds and state General Funds and is limited to appropriations for the Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program.
Mental Health Budget Bill Components
The separate appropriations bill for the Copmrehensive Integrated Mental Health Program includes the following components:
- General Fund/Mental Heath Base (GF/MH Base): Amount is established by identifying the mental health services funded within the state's general fund budget. These funds are designated as general fund/mental health dollars. The final budget from the previous fiscal year establishes the GF/MH base.
- Adjustments to the Base: As The Trust and the associated boards and commission further refine the definition of beneficiaries and accurately track funds for the Comprehnsive Integrated Mental Health Program, the Trustees suggest adjustments to the base each year.
- GF/MH Increments: When Trustees identify better and more cost efficient ways of providing on-going services or solutions for unmet needs, they make recommendations in the form of GF/MH increments.
- Capital Budget: The separate appropriations bill includes that portion of the state's capital budget that funds mental health projects. This often inclues funds from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to provice housing for beneficiaries as part of the Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program.
- Mental Health Trust Authority Authorized Reciepts (MHTAAR): Trustees authorize state agencies to spend Trust funds for specific operating and capital projects. These state agencies must have legislative approval to receive and expend Trust funds.
Budget Process
Downloads
 
|
Budget Process Diagram
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Budget Process - 04/01/09 |
|
|
Trust Legislative Orientation - Mental Health Budget Bill - Jan 2013
History and overview of the Mental Health Budget Bill process for members of the Legislature and staff. |
NOTE: Many of the documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. Acrobat Reader software may be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems, Inc.
