HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-12-07-minutes-public-hearing-mental-health-tax12/07/2021 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 6:00 P.M. DECEMBER 7, 2021
Board members present via Webex: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice-
Chairman Laura Osiadacz and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others present via Webex: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mandy
Buchholz, Administrative Supervisor; Carly Brettmann, Communications
Director; Dr. Mark Larson, Public Health Official; Neil Caulkins,
Deputy Prosecutor; Audelia Martinez, Health Promotion Specialist;
Nea Alfaro, Health Promotion Specialist I; Steve Panattoni, Jail
Superintendent; Ed Buntin, Corrections Lieutenant; Greg Zempel,
Prosecutor; Lianne Bradshaw, Assessment Coordinator; Emily Brown,
Legal Process Assistant; and approximately 32 members of the
public. PUBLIC HEARING MENTAL HEALTH TAX COMMISSIONERS
At 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider
a 1/10th of 1% increase in Sales and Use Tax as authorized by RCW
82.14.60 (Chemical Dependency, Mental Health Treatment, or
Therapeutic Courts).
DOUG FULP, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, KITTITAS COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK,
reviewed a power-point presentation on the proposed increase in tax.
He said the increase would provide access to substance use disorder
and mental health treatment and support services for Kittitas County
community members. He shared information on the shortage of health
professionals; number of Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue mental health
calls; mental health and substance use disorders in incarcerated
individuals; surveys conducted by youth in Kittitas County relating
to attempted suicides in the past year; and the support provided by
numerous entities including the City of Ellensburg and the City of
Cle Elum Councils.
BRUCE TABB, CITY OF ELLENSBURG MAYOR, commented on the limited
number of services and resources available to residents of Kittitas
County. He read a letter of support into the record from City of
Ellensburg Police Chief Ken Wade and encouraged the Board of County
Commissioners to approve the proposed increase in sales and use tax. CHARLIE McKINNEY expressed his support of the proposal and said it
was extremely important for the need of additional resources
available to citizens. CHRIS DeVILLENE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL WASHINGTON COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH, said there’s a limited
number of resources available, and with the significant increase in
need for services, they are the same as it was 10-15 years ago. He
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said the funding would be a great opportunity for assisting with
expanding services and he encouraged the Board to approve increasing
the Sales & Use Tax. DAVID DOUGLAS expressed his support of the
proposal and reviewed the substantial increase in mental health and
substance use issues not only nationwide, but locally. He felt the
County would see many benefits and a positive return with additional
funding from the proposed sales & use tax. DELORES IRWIN, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS encouraged the Board to put the issue onto the ballot. EMILY BROWN felt it’s been a long process and supported the
proposal, stating how treatment services were just as important as
medical services. GAYLE SCOTT said it’s been a very stressful time
for everyone, and the proposal was timely as additional resources
for mental health services is needed. GEORGE LONG expressed his
support of the proposal and encouraged the Board to approve the tax. GREG AUBOL, DIRECTOR OF COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH, said there’s
been significant process in obtaining funding since last spring, but
only with grants, noting those were not sustainable. He supported
the increase in tax and encouraged the Board to approve the
proposal. JACKIE HERUM said mental health issues were close to her
heart as she’s been involved with programs since the mid 90’s. She
requested the Board to vote to approve the proposed mental health
tax. JESSICA KARRAKER said while she agreed there’s a mental health
crisis and need for additional resources, she didn’t believe in
government overreach, and requested the Board put the issue on an
upcoming ballot. She felt it would allow the voters to express
themselves and give the Board an overall feeling of support or non-
support of the proposal. She said if the Board approves the
additional tax without going before a vote of the people, it will
set a precedence. JOHN BROTHERTON, MERIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
explained there was a significant need for additional resources in
the community and urged the Board to approve the proposed tax
increase. JOY STOCHOSKY encouraged the Board to support the increase
in sales & use tax. KEN WADE, CITY OF ELLENSBURG CHIEF OF POLICE,
said the increase in sales and use tax funding would go a long way
in the current crisis and thanked the Board of Commissioners for
supporting the proposal. DR. KEVIN MARTIN, KITTITAS VALLEY HOSPITAL,
said the increase in tax would not be a solution to everything, it
is just a beginning to address the issues in the community. He
reviewed the toll mental health and substance use disorders take on
first responders and said the Board needed to enact the tax. MELISSA DENNER, MERIT RESOURCES SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE, expressed support
of the proposed tax and explained how recovery was possible if
people have access to resources. MICHELE CAWLEY said she deals with
those who do not have access to services on a daily basis. She said
patients end up going to the emergency room when in crisis because
there’s no resources available. She encouraged the Board to enact
the proposed tax. NANCY GOODLOE acknowledged that increasing taxes
was not an easy thing to do, she felt the proposal was necessary due
to the lack of resources. She encouraged the Board to support the
tax. NANCY LILLQUIST expressed her support for the proposed tax and
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said the law allows for the legislative body to enact the tax in
order to deal with issues on a local level. NICOLE MATTHEWS AND TYLER MATHEWS expressed their support of the tax and expressed
concerns with the increase of homelessness in the community. PAMELA TUGGLE said the community was in crisis and she fully supported the
tax. ROBIN READ explained how mental health issues can be very hard,
scary, and an extremely tough situation for people and when there is
nowhere to go when in crisis, they tend to just fall through the
cracks. She felt there’s been a lot of opportunity for the public
to speak and now is the time to approve the tax. TIFFANY CRISMAN
referenced Commissioner Wrights comments from the public hearing
that was held back in April, when he felt most of the community was
probably unaware of the proposed tax, and that the Board should
allow the community an opportunity to vote on it. ABIGAIL RABEL
thanked the Board for supporting kids in the community. ARLEIN ANDERSON said she was a Republican and felt it was time to approve
the proposed tax as the community needs help. She didn’t want to
lose more people and encouraged the Board to enact the tax. DR. MARK LARSON expressed his support of the tax. He reviewed results
from surveys that were done in the community by youth and how there
was a high amount of students who claim they’ve attempted suicide
and those feelings of hopelessness. He also addressed the
significant problem with those who are incarcerated and need for
resources. GREG ZEMPEL, PROSECUTOR said statistics support the
action that is being asked of the Board of County Commissioners to
approve the tax. JINGER HABERER, ELLENSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT supported the proposed tax and said there’s an
extreme increase in mental health needs in the school system,
including students in the younger grades. THERE BEING NO OTHERS REQUESTING TO TESTIFY, THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE HEARING WAS CLOSED. NEIL CAULKINS, DEPUTY PROSECUTOR reviewed the statute and said there
were wrinkles found in the previous Ordinance. He said in order to
enact the tax it needed to be approved by the legislative authority
and not an advisory vote.
ORDINANCE 2021-013 REPEAL ORDINANCE 2021-005 COMMISSIONERS
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT moved to approve Ordinance No. 2021-013,
Repealing Ordinance No. 2021-005, and to direct Staff to prepare
enabling documents enacting the provisions of RCW 823.14.460 in
Kittitas County Code, additionally such documents shall specify an
expiration date of six (6) years following enactment unless further
authorized by the legislative body approval prior to expiration. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH seconded.
COMMISSIONER WRIGHT expressed his appreciation for everyone’s
testimony. He commented on the recent loss of life at an early
stage, stating it was unprecedented. He said the statistics were
piling up and the County needed to start somewhere., and while the
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plan may not be perfect, there will be the ability to check on the
results before the end of the sunset clause. He wanted to ensure
there will be measurable data to show and that every issue stands
alone. VICE-CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ thanked the public for their comments.
She said even though the tax can be enacted by the Board, she felt
it was important that any new tax is voted on by the people, even if
it’s only advisory. She said while she supports the proposal, she
does not support the process of allowing an increase without having
a vote of the people, as it limits participation. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH
said he’s been very open about his support throughout the process.
He said he’s looking forward to getting people healthy through
having additional services available.
Motion approved 2-1 (Vice-Chairman Osiadacz opposed the motion).
The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman