Answering Frequently Heard Objections/Questions on Mental Health Tax Referendum

Kankakee County residents have an opportunity to vote on a sales tax referendum at the April 4 General Election. Voters will decide if they are willing to adopt a ¼ cent sales tax to create local, long-term solutions to address chronic gaps in the mental health system of care.

Several objections and questions have been raised about the need for the tax and how the funds will be spent. Kankakee County Citizens for Mental Health will hold four informational meetings to provide residents the opportunity to discuss these issues, as well as other questions they may have.

The sessions will be held on Thursday, March 23, from noon – 1 p.m., at Kankakee Public Library, 201 E. Merchant Street; Thursday, March 23, from 7 – 8 p.m., at the ONU Weber Center, Room 306, 1 University Avenue, Bourbonnais; Tuesday, March 28, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., at Limestone Public Library, 2701 W. Tower Road, Kankakee; and Friday, March 31, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., at Leo Hassett Community Center, 211 N Main Street, Manteno.

Responding to allegations the group failed to secure enough signatures to put the referendum on the ballot and called in favors from Kankakee County Board members, Debra Baron states, “There are two ways to get a referendum on the ballot. One is to get a prescribed number of citizen signatures, and the other is having the governing body that will implement the measure pass a resolution to put it on the ballot.”

“Rather than waiting another year to gather signatures to place this question on the ballot and have people continuing to go without mental health services, the majority of county board members agreed it was time to give voters the opportunity to decide if they were willing to support funding for mental health services. The county board has used this option in the past to place other referenda on the ballot,” she added.

Proponents of the tax argue that even with this increase, the highest sales tax rate (8.5 percent) in Kankakee County would still be significantly less the rates in Cook County and Chicago. Baron claims, “Identifying and addressing mental illness early saves more than it costs in the long run.”

Opponents of the tax maintain there are enough mental health services in Kankakee County. Yet, for nearly a decade, the Partnership for a Healthy Community has identified the shortage of mental health services as priority public health concern. Long wait times to begin receiving treatment and gaps in service are well documented. The need is further evidenced by the ratio of population to mental health service providers. In Kankakee County, it is 660 residents to one mental health service provider. This is much higher than the state ratio of 410-to-one and national ratio of 380-to-one.

Many of the questions raised center around who and how will decisions be made about spending the monies collected. According to the Illinois Community Mental Health Act, before it may levy the tax, the county board must establish a seven-member community mental health board, who will administer these funds. The board will be appointed by the county board chairman, with the advice and consent of the members of the county board. All members of the Community Mental Health Board must be appointed within 60 days of the referendum.

The Act requires that members of the Community Mental Health Board must be residents of Kankakee County. They should include representatives of interested groups of the community, such as the local health department, medical societies, hospital boards, lay associations concerned with mental health, as well as the general public. However, no member of the Community Mental Health Board may be a full-time or part-time employee of the Illinois Department of Human Services or a board member, employee, or any other individual receiving compensation from any facility or service operating under contract to the board. No member shall receive payment, except expenses, for service on the board.

According to Baron, “The Community Mental Health Board will not add another layer of government. The Illinois Community Mental Health Act specifies the board work with existing nonprofits, county, state, and federal governments to fund services that are not funded elsewhere. The Community Mental Health Board must look at unmet local needs and provide funding and direction to meet those needs. It may only provide direct services in very limited situations.”

Proceeds of the tax will be deposited into a special county occupation tax fund for mental health purposes. As described in the Act, applicants for funding may be an individual or a public or private entity providing mental health services to residents of Kankakee County.

Kankakee County Citizens for Mental Health maintain the Illinois Community Mental Health Act lays out clear requirements to ensure the Community Mental Health Board will operate with the highest level of transparency and accountability to Kankakee County residents. Oversight of the operations of the board to comply with the requirements will be the responsibility of the citizens of Kankakee.

Those with additional questions and concerns are urged to attend one of the informational meetings that will be held at various locations in the county.