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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STAFF REPORT FOR <br />BOARD OF HEALTH <br />Public Health Office <br />BOARD OF HEALTH DATE:3/19/2026 <br />TOPIC: 1/10th of 1% Post Sunset Update <br />ACTION REQUESTED: No Action — Information Only <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Kasey Knutson <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />No action recommended at this time. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />■ On 2/17/2026, BOCC adopted ordinance 2026-002 to Amend Kittitas County Code <br />3.04.090, which removed the sunset clause. <br />■ Kittitas County staff, including representatives from Kittitas County Public Health, <br />Auditor's Office, Prosecutor's Office, along with Commissioner Wachsmith, have been <br />meeting to streamline mental health/substance use disorder prevention tax funding. <br />• Streamlining will include funding cycles, RFP update, and more. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In 2021, the county implemented the sales tax for 1/10t' of 1% for mental health and chemical <br />dependency (substance use disorder) tax. A sunset clause was put into place for 2027 to gather <br />data and show community impact. In December of 2025 after a public hearing, the sunset clause <br />was removed. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />County staff are working to budget level funding without a large fund balance or a tax <br />implementation deadline. The funding includes maintaining a fund balance, board directed <br />projects, schools, and community projects through RFP and the goal is to budget within the <br />funding limits of tax collection. <br />FISCAL IMPACTS: <br />Without a large fund balance, the county will need to eventually decrease the RFP amount <br />released. <br />ATTACHMENTS: none <br />Page 1 of 1 <br />Public Health Office "Study Session Staff Report", 12/23/2024 <br />20 <br />