Voting on mental health tax takes place in McHenry County

People vote on whether or not the tax of 25 cents per every 100 dollars spent should go to mental health

The Mental Health Tax is being voted on March 19, It was brought about due to there being a spike in people who needed or wanted mental health help. This added tax, if approved by voters, will add 25 cents to every one hundred dollars spent shopping. The tax would go into effect July 1 of this year.

The Mental Health Tax is presented because the McHenry Mental Health Board does not receive enough money to keep up with the needs of people in McHenry who want mental help.

It has been more than ten years since funds have been raised for the Mental Health Board causing them to fall behind on the needs of McHenry County.

“In the last few years, mental health needs have increased across the country,” said the Northwest Herald. “In a 2023 poll, almost 40% of McHenry County adults reported recent symptoms of anxiety or depression, which has doubled since 2020. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called the increase in youth mental health needs ‘the defining public health crisis of our time.’”

Although not everyone agrees with the idea that sales tax will help the MHB fund better for the growing demand of mental health help.

“Vote no on the Mental Health Board tax referendum on the primary ballot,” said Mary T. McCann, through a ‘letter to the editor’ on the Daily Herald. “Keep a stable, secure funding source to support the valuable services the MHB funds.”
A reason that voters are interested in the tax reform is that it would take the money that they give to the Mental Health Board would be take off of their taxes.

“If the referendum passes,” says the Northwest Herald, “the property tax levy earmarked for the mental health board will be eliminated.”

This reform would reshape the way that funds are given to the Mental Health Board allowing them more money and give greater access to resources to people that need it.