2021-04-14-minutes-public-hearing-mental-health-tax

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04/14/2021 MINUTES 2 money is being spent wisely. He said most substance use disorders also have a mental health disorder and sees how the numbers have been magnified since the pandemic began over 15 months ago. He encouraged the Board to approve the increase in sales tax. SARAH PORTER felt the pandemic did not heighten any issues and there were fake people hiding behind the Mental Health system and parents should be held accountable instead of increasing taxes. ARDETH KENNER spoke against the proposed tax. She said she had been through 14 treatment centers, and if money could have solved her problem’s she would have got sober a long time ago. DR. JOHN ASRIEL spoke in favor of the tax. He said there are widespread effects throughout the community relating to Mental Health issues. He said the tax would pay for itself many times over and provide for a stable funding source to support services. CHARLIE MCKINNEY spoke in favor of the proposed tax. He reviewed experiences from life-long challenges of his family relating to mental health. He felt professional help was critical and having the right services make a difference in people’s lives. SANDY BANKSTON CASA Director encouraged the Board to vote in favor of the proposed tax. She said our community does not have enough services available for citizens and they end up being sent out of the area to receive help. DIANE ROSSOW said the mental health challenges are a large burden that has been falling on first responders. She asked the Board to approve the proposed increase in sales tax. JARED BRONKEMA, EHS EXCEL HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL said there was a significant need for students to have access to mental health services. He said mental health disorders are treatable if the services are available and asked the Board to enact the proposed sales tax. LOWEL MURPHY spoke in favor of the tax and provided information on how it would end up saving taxpayer’s money in the end. He said it would also mitigate factors with mental health and addiction assessments while in jail. LISA MARTIN, PSYCHOLOGIST spoke in favor of increasing the sales tax and described situations of families who struggle with mental health crisis on a regular basis. She said they are no different, but it is our perception of them that is different. MICHELLE CAWLEY urged the Board to enact the tax and the importance of it to the citizens of Kittitas County. She said they have been working for a long time designing a program for the community to address the needs of having access to mental health services. ROBIN READ, DIRECTOR OF THE KITTITAS COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK explained how broad changes do not happen without resources. She felt there would only be positive impacts to the community from increasing the sales tax for mental health services and urged the Board to approve the proposal. DR. MARK LARSON supported the proposed increase in tax and said 50% of his practice relates to mental health. He said Kittitas County does not have the resources that are needed for his patients who need access to mental health services. WILLIAM (LAST NAME UNKNOWN) asked the Board to check into all of the information before implementing another tax. THOSE TESTIFYING VIA WEBEX: DEBBIE BOGART said she was representing herself and as the Executive Director for Cle Elum Downtown Association.