By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – New number crunching in Jefferson City has found that closing the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center in St. Louis County could actually cost the state money.
The center serves 341 people with mental retardation and physical disabilities.
Governor Matt Blunt's says the move would save the state nearly $14 million. But the Mental Health Department now says the initial estimate failed to consider that the closing would cost Missouri $23 million in federal funds.
Budget analyst John Gilbert now says closing Bellefontaine would save $2.5 million next year at best. Gilbert also says the state could actually lose money, depending on the time needed to move its residents into private care.
A spokesman for the governor says Blunt also wants to close the center because of allegations of patient abuse.