The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday for an in-depth audit of the troubled Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board.

The Community Services Board (CSB) is responsible for organizing and providing human services to residents with mental illnesses, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance abuse issues. In 2012, the CSB is staring down an $8 million shortfall in its 2012 budget. It is expected to increase to $9.5 million in 2013.

“We believe that every member of this Board is committed to a detailed review of CSB finances and operations to ensure the financial stability of the CSB and to ensure that the CSB’s many clients continue to receive the essential services that they need and depend on receiving,” reads the motion put forth by Chairman Sharon Bulova and Supervisors John Foust (D-Dranesville), Jeff McKay (D-Lee) and Catherine Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill).

The board unanimously supported the motion for an audit, which will be conducted by Auditor of the Board Michael Longhi.

In a June 1 memorandum to the board, County Executive Ed Long recommended that Longhi conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the CSB’s contracting and billing strategies, as well as look at ways to enhance the current co-pay and fee-for-services policies.

In his memo, Long said he intended for the process to take about three weeks.

According to the supervisors’ motion, “[The] plan will concentrate on the concerns related to cost effective service delivery models; financial management oversight; revenue collections, including Medicaid, private insurance, and consumer fees; outsourcing opportunities; and provider rate negotiation processes.”

The board’s decision came the day after the emotional first installment in a series of public hearings regarding the CSB’s budget troubles and its plan to manage them.

Supervisor Linda Smyth (D-Providence) said she wanted to clarify to the public that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is not out to cut services.

The CSB’s budget problems stem from reductions in funding from both the state and federal levels, as well as an overall increase in the number of county residents in need of services.

“What we’re attempting to do here is close the projected shortfall and finding ways to most responsibly make that happen,” Bulova said. “It’s not as though we decided to cut the CSB.

“The people served are the people who are most in need. We don't want to let these populations down.”

Click here for more information about the next public hearing on the CSB's budget management plan.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misquoted Sharon Bulova. Patch apologizes for the error.

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