Mental health needs have increased across the country in the last few years. In the 2023 survey, nearly 40% of McHenry County adults reported recent symptoms of anxiety or depression, doubling since 2020. In 2023, the US Surgeon General called the increase in youth mental health needs “the defining public health crisis of our time.” , And recently McHenry County required mental health and substance use evaluations as the top two health concerns for our residents.
Although the need has increased dramatically, the stigma surrounding seeking mental health care continues to decrease. More people than ever before are asking for help. However, they often face long waiting lists and a shortage of providers. Funding for local mental health agencies has not kept pace with this need. However, this month, McHenry County has a chance to vote “yes” to increased mental health funding.
Our agencies receive significant financial support from the McHenry County Mental Health Board, which is currently funded by a property tax levy included in the county line item on your tax bill. The McHenry County Board recognized in a nearly unanimous bipartisan vote last December that this funding is not commensurate with the needs of the community and agreed to ask voters to change the way mental health services are funded.
On March 19, primary ballots will include a referendum to create a 0.25% sales tax to replace the property tax for the mental health board. This tax will be applied across the country on most retail purchases except food, medicine and medical devices. If approved, McHenry County expects full-year sales tax collections for the mental health board to be between $12 million and $13 million, about $2 million more than property taxes. This would eliminate mental health funding from property taxes, but allow for an increase in mental health funding as the county retail base grows.
Several local agencies, including NAMI McHenry County, Family Health Partnership Clinic, Independence Health & Therapy, Options & Advocacy and others, have passed resolutions in support of the referendum.
This change in funding will help organizations keep pace to some extent with the increasing demand for services. With no increase in mental health fees for over 10 years, we have fallen behind the needs of our community. In addition to serving more people and expanding what is available, the proposed sales tax also provides benefits to taxpayers. People who live outside of McHenry County will contribute taxes through retail purchases made at local businesses. Additionally, most homeowners will have difficulty affording the current property tax levels. The owner of a home with a fair market value of $250,000 now pays $78.61 per year in taxes for Mental Health Board property taxes. With sales tax added, to reach that $79 annual rate, the same homeowner would need to spend $31,442 on retail purchases in the county, excluding food, medicine and medical equipment.
The McHenry County Mental Health Board funds approximately 40 agencies that provide mental health, substance use and developmental disability services. These providers served 47,000 people, including 28,000 new customers, in 2023 with their county funding. All of these agencies are experiencing a significant increase in demand for services and need our support now more than ever.
If voters do not wish to declare a party in the primary they can simply request a referendum ballot, and mail-in and early voting options are now available. For more information about voting, visit mchenrycountyil.gov/departments/county-clerk/elections/voter-information.
Please join our agencies and frontline workers and vote “yes” on mental health on March 19. Together, we can make change.
• Suzanne Hoban is the Founder and Executive Director of the Family Health Partnership Clinic. Abby Nichols is the Executive Director of NAMI McHenry County (National Alliance on Mental Illness).