OUR VIEW | A tax plan with parameters

Posted: Published on February 18th, 2013

This post was added by Dr P. Richardson

The call for better mental health services may never have been more clear.

Anytime our homelessness problem is discussed, its clear that population is underserved in diagnosis and treatment. Police too often spend resources responding to calls spurred by residents who would be far better served by a health professional. And, stepping outside our borders but with an issue that hits home, every public shootings seems to bring both sides of the gun control argument agree on one thing: better identification and treatment of mental health problems would offer some help.

Dependency on alcohol or drugs is different, of course, but perhaps no less important. In a similar way, those struggling with addiction have their problems often burden public services like emergency medical care and law enforcement, when treatment of root causes would be far more beneficial for the community.

That explanation of the cost for those problems may sound straightforward, but finding an answer is not. Readers touched by mental health issues or drug dependency know how complex problems can become in a persons life, and the ripple effect they have through a family, network of friends, an economy or the fabric of a community.

The countywide sales tax of 1/10 of one percent being considered by commissioners, which is estimated to collect about $3.3 million annually, is a reasonable way to begin patching a safety net that makes Kitsap County a healthier, safer, and more economically successful place. The problems brought on by greater need and fewer dollars for health care, courts, intervention programs or case management are intertwined, and thus a solution, even if only partial in its early stage, must be as well. Theres a broad base of organizations and individuals behind the idea, including Harrison Medical Center, the Kitsap Public Health District, Kitsap Mental Health Services, the League of Women Voters, the cities in Kitsap County and county agencies like the Sheriffs Office and Superior Court.

The county commissioners have yet to schedule public hearings on the idea or entertain a vote, and have expressed the need for further research into how programs are set up in the 20 other Washington counties that have used state law to enact such a tax. One is just down the road in Mason County, where in 2012 a family drug court was set up with a smaller amount of funding.

Were encouraged that commissioners are taking a cautious attitude on this one, and urge them to enact the tax only after more specifics are written into an ordinance. They have likely not forgotten the 2011 measure along these lines that failed with the public. That ballot question would have increased property taxes to bring in about $1.35 annually to be spent on the homeless and programs for veterans worthy goals that couldnt outweigh the publics uncertainty about what type of program was being set up. A plan that would have been created by the countys Human Services Division after the vote and then overseen by two different advisory boards, even after capping administrative costs in writing, simply wasnt enough to garner the voters trust.

The lesson should be clear: assure the public that their money will be well spent and spell out certain measurable goals in writing. Proponents offer studies that are guiding the recommended priorities ensure that those will be used by a technical advisory committee as oversight. Hospitals, jails and courts routinely document expenditures on specific problems or charity care that is uncompensated watch those statistics to gauge progress, and explain to the public what is expected and how that information will be calculated and shared. Communicate what has worked in other counties using this process and with that knowledge mimic a preferred system before the tax is passed, not after. Take heed of the publics thirst to be able to understand what their paying for so constituents can explain exactly what type of community-changing program they are investing in.

And if the goals cant be achieved in a reasonable time frame, assure taxpayers that we wont continue putting money into something that isnt working. Passing this tax, if thats the commissions decision, will mean leaning on the courage of convictions. Own up to that courage by boldly stating not only what is at stake, but what measuring stick well use to pass judgment on how it works.

Explain to the community that, with their help, the county can pinpoint needs and measure success and solve this crucial problem with not only the taxpayers financial help, but also his or her trust.

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OUR VIEW | A tax plan with parameters

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