COVINGTON, La. (WVUE) – North shore mental health advocates are concerned about a proposal to cut $600,000 from the Safe Haven facility near Mandeville. The parish is grappling with a budget deficit estimated between $20 million and $30 million, and other cuts are in the works.
Thirteen years ago, Safe Haven was established as a replacement for Southeast Louisiana Hospital, which was a regional mainstay for mental health treatment, but now Safe Haven is in jeopardy. The parish council has approved an amendment to cut $600,000 from the facility as they look at other cuts as well.
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As the St. Tammany Parish Council conducts budget hearings, members have voted to forgo raises for all employees next year.
“The problem was we don’t know what our insurance costs are going to be,” parish council member Cheryl Tanner said.
The deficit would affect everything from the DA’s office to courthouse security and the jail.
“We cut the jail, DA and judges by 30 percent … we did not have the money to fund that,” Tanner said.
One council member took aim at the parish president’s budget.
“A reduction in the general fund of $363,000, which would be a reduction in the parish president’s office, the chief administrative office, finance, grant and procurement in the public works fund,” councilmember Arthur Laughlin said.
Parish president Mike Cooper says some of those proposed cuts would affect positions that actually generate money for the parish.
“I was surprised when I received this budget amendment,” Cooper said.
“With all due respect Mr. Cooper, I do not have to ask your permission or work with you if we want to make cuts,” Laughlin said.
The parish council decided to leave the parish president’s budget intact, but the council budget chair says tough questions remain, especially when it comes to proposed cuts to Safe Haven and impacts on behavioral health providers who operate there.
“The need in our community is greater than it’s ever been for behavioral health needs,” said Richard Kramer with the Florida Parishes Human Services Authority.
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“I’m not going to say it will be shut down… we have funds… we have six months,” Tanner said, adding she hopes her proposed cuts begin a wider conversation on the long-term future of Safe Haven. A parish efficiency committee is now looking at all parish spending to address long-term chronic deficits and spending priorities.
Cooper says he’s invoked a hiring freeze on all vacant positions.
The 2026 budget remains a work in progress, with more hearings expected between now and the end of the year.
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