A Questionable Link

Ventura County’s efforts to restore confidence in its treatment of the mentally ill and its stewardship of funds intended for that purpose are being undermined by a political link between two key players.

Last week, Auditor-Controller Thomas O. Mahon met with county officials, psychiatrists and advocates for the mentally ill to offer assurances that there is nothing improper in the transfer of millions of dollars a year from mental health programs to the Ventura County Medical Center and other county operations. Previously, Mahon announced that a review by his staff--conducted to determine the cost of the county’s abortive reorganization of its mental health department--projected a budget shortfall for that department less than one-third of the $1.5 million predicted by opponents of that reorganization.

Both of those reassurances may be precisely on the mark. But because Mahon’s election campaigns have been managed by the husband of Supervisor Susan K. Lacey, the driving force behind the reorganization, Mahon’s credibility on this issue is open to skepticism.

Fortunately, a number of other auditors are also looking into this situation. The transfers and other spending practices are being audited by the state Department of Mental Health. And the U.S. Health Care Financing Administration is auditing the county hospital and the two units involved in the ill-fated merger--the Behavioral Health Department and the Public Social Services Agency--to determine whether the county violated federal billing rules and should return millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid payments.

If not for these other audits, we would see a need for a review by an outside firm with no ties to Mahon, Lacey or anyone else in county government. Ventura County has a big job in regaining the public’s faith after the merger debacle. Failure to acknowledge Mahon’s potential conflict of interest does not help.