Is Orange County leaving mental health dollars on the table?

Counties across California are under increasing scrutiny for how they use — or don't use — state funds earmarked for mental health services.

A recent state audit found that California counties were collectively sitting on an unused stash of $2.5 billion in funds from the Mental Health Services Act. The issue has taken front stage in Orange County, where officials are scrambling to provide housing and services to homeless people, some with mental illness, as part of a federal court settlement.