Broome Budget Hearing Becomes Clinic Hearing

What was supposed to be a public hearing about Broome County's proposed budget became a forum for people protesting the planned closure of the Broome County Mental Health Clinic.

The budget proposal eliminates 21 clinic jobs, leaving just nine workers to finish operations until the clinic closes.

There has been no date set for locking the doors but Mental Health Commissioner Arthur Johnson has said a large number of the clients at the center have already been moved into other local programs.

The speakers and demonstrators at the hearing yesterday were pushing to have the legislature restore funding for the clinic jobs in the budget.  Lawmakers did not vote to put the money back in the ledger.

A county budget is due to be in place by November 27.