botetourt joins roanoke county and delegate joseph yost in opposing catawba's closure. the mental health hospital currently houses more than 80 patients with the capacity for 110. and supervisors say the demand for those beds is on the rise. supervisors pointed out, in 20-15, catawba saw a 41 percent increase in patients. now, on the other hand, the hospital has an expensive 21 million dollar annual budget. but the county is arguing its budget will be affected if the hospital closes because of how far away patients will need to be transported to receive help. ronald sprinkle, botetourt county sheriff 00:02:05 "we're transporting mental people all over the state of virginia at this point. as far away as northern virginia down in the norfolk area, which cuts into our being open. i can only see that being greater if we close catawba hospital." the state has not offered to compensate those transportation costs. supervisors say if catawba closes, the nearest similar facility would be western state hospital in staunton, around 100 miles away. this issue is going to be argued
