Linn County to lower rent for Abbe Center

With changes in government policy sending fewer people to residential facilities for mental illness or other long-term care, Linn County will see less revenue from its own former county home.

Supervisors gave initial approval Wednesday morning to a new contract with Abbe Inc., the non-profit that operates the Abbe Center for Community Care. Up for final approval at Monday's work session, the agreement will reduce Abbe's annual rent from $284,000 to $200,000.

The county will also reduce its maintenance of the building at 1860 County Home Rd., Marion. Darrin Gage, county director of policy and administration, told supervisors the county spent $194,000 on maintenance over the last year but will reduce repairs "to a minimum" needed to meet safety and licensing requirements.

Abbe has been paying monthly rental at the old rate since the old contract expired June 30, Gage said. The county will adjust its charges to cover any overpayment by the agency.

The

center was home to about 125 people last October, when the county started shifting about 85 residents to smaller three- or four-bedroom neighborhood group homes. The changes were prompted by a $5.3 million shortfall in the county's budget for mental health and developmentally disabled services -- federal Medicaid pays for a higher share of the costs in smaller facilities.