By Tom Weber, KWMU
Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO – Supporters of the Bellefontaine Rehabilitation Center in north St. Louis County are already starting next year's battle to keep it open.
Governor Matt Blunt wanted to close the Bellefontaine Rehab Center this year and move the mentally handicapped residents there to community-based facilities.
He cited cost savings potential and reports of patient abuse at the facility as reasons for the move.
But he later changed his mind, partly because of support from the patient's parents who feared their children wouldn't be able to cope with a move.
Missouri's new state budget that takes effect Friday includes money for the center.
"While we applaud the governor for keeping the center open one more year," said Rev. Tommie Pierson. "We understand that we're still in a battle, and we intend to win it." Pierson heads the Metropolitan Congregations United, one of the many groups that rallied to save Bellefontaine this year.
A spokesman, though, said Monday that Governor Blunt still intends to propose closing down Bellefontaine in his next budget next year. "There's been just a sad history of violence and abuse committeed on the residents of Bellefontaine by the workers there," said Spence Jackson. "And those workers are state employees.
"It's gone on for too long and it's something that has to stop and the governor still believes that action needs to take place and it needs to close."
But supporters of Bellefontaine say there's no guarantee the abuse would stop if residents were moved to community-based facilities.
"Yes, there have been cases of abuse, as there would be in the community, too," said Mickey Slawson, whose 48-year old daughter lives at the center.
"But they've been reported, they've been investigated, and they've been dealt with."
Supporters also say the state should respond to allegations of abuse by fixing what's wrong, instead of closing the whole facility.
The governor toured the facility last week.