A lack of mental-health funding has been a chief concern for Union County supervisors this budget season. Union County is set to get significantly less mental-health funding ($593,128) for fiscal year 2013-14 — about $138,000 less than the current fiscal year.

Rita Aistrope, assistant CPC for mental-health services in south-central Iowa, said Wednesday, Union County is like many other counties in Iowa. They need additional mental-health funding to maintain services.

“It’s essential we get extra funding,” Aistrope said. “If we don’t, it will make it very difficult on the counties we serve. More funding will help ensure our clients don’t have any changes in their daily schedules, and with that population it’s very, very important their schedules remain routine.”