“It will definitely be a cost issue,” Richards said. “It ties a deputy up for a whole day. The officer’s salary, the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance also are considerations.

Richards pointed out that the change will affect not only the sheriff’s office here, but those in other counties in the region that transport people to Southwestern for evaluation.

Southwestern’s use of city utilities amounts to about $1 million annually. Assuming 40 percent of the hospital’s employees are city utilities customers, the agency would lose another $1 million in annual revenue.

Southwestern utilities revenue alone accounts for 2.5 percent of the agency’s annual budget.

Steve Sykes, city manager, said that if the revenue is lost, utilities customers would see slight rate increases.

“We have fixed costs to pay,” Sykes said.

Don Sims, Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce president, is trying to find out “who’s pushing it.”

A look to privatization is a look to decreasing costs, Sims said, but a reduction in expenses will not result in treatment of mental illnesses. “It certainly is not the way to go,” he said.

The chamber will contact the governor.

“Privatization is for profit, and the bill would come back to the state,” the chamber president said.

Sims said that closing Southwestern is a blow to a part of the state that can least withstand more economic downturns.