Commissioners vote to place mental health question on ballot
The Leavenworth TimesNov 08, 2019
County commissioners voted Wednesday to have the county clerk draft a question regarding funding for mental health services to appear on ballots for an August primary.
The ballot question was requested by members of the
Earlier this year, the task force submitted a proposal for addressing mental health issues to the
Rickard is the executive director of
He said new cost estimates for the proposal total
The task force's proposal includes recommendations for providing clinician support to schools, increasing compensation for staff at
Rickard said he believes implementation of the task force's recommendations could save taxpayer money in the long run.
Commissioners did not raise objections to placing the question on a ballot. But much of their discussion Wednesday focused on when the issue would be put before voters.
Members of the task force requested to have a special election in the spring.
Rickard said the
"They see that really as creating an opportunity for people to help themselves," he said.
Commissioner
County Clerk
In the case of the August primary, special ballots would have to be prepared for voters who are unaffiliated with a party.
Klasinski said the proposed increased funding for mental health services could be included in the 2021 budget even if the issue is not placed before voters until the August primary.
"It would be a matter of developing two budgets," she said.
One budget would reflect the tax increase that is being proposed. The other would not include the tax increase. The outcome of the election would determine which of the two budgets is adopted.
Klasinski said there is no way the increased funding for mental health services could be included in the 2021 budget if commissioners wait to put the question before voters until next year's general election.
Commissioner
Klasinski said a 2015 countywide mail ballot election cost about
Klasinski estimated the cost of a countywide mail ballot election would be closer
She said there still would be a cost of between
She said there would be no additional cost for placing the question on the ballot for the
Stieben said he would prefer to use
He said members of the task force may have to work to get voters to turn out for the August primary.
"But I don't think it would be insurmountable," he said.
Commission Chairman
Commissioner
Commissioner
The motion was approved unanimously.
Twitter: @LVTNewsJohnR
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