Bellevue wants drug funds used in community

Funds from a new county sales tax designed to pay for mental illness and drug dependency services should initially be targeted at community-based programs, jail and hospital diversion initiatives and school programs to assist youth, Bellevue City Council members said last week.

Funds from a new county sales tax designed to pay for mental illness and drug dependency services should initially be targeted at community-based programs, jail and hospital diversion initiatives and school programs to assist youth, Bellevue City Council members said last week.

In 2005, a state law was passed authorizing counties to impose a one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax for new or expanded mental health and chemical dependency treatment services. The tax, which went into effect in 2008, is expected to generate $32.4 million this year.

During a May 27 study session, council members told staff that in the coming year, programs benefiting the homeless should be emphasized. Of the $32.4 million in 2008 tax funds expected to be collected by King County, about $18 million is being proposed to be spent on housing for homeless people facing mental illness or drug dependency challenges.

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The council is expected to adopt an interest statement in the next several weeks outlining city’s other priorities for the new tax funds. Those priorities include:

Increased access to basic mental health and chemical dependency services for low-income people. The council noted that two local mental health counseling agencies were forced to close their doors in 2007 due to a lack of adequate funding;

The need to increase funding for mental health and substance abuse services in schools, and additional funding support for suicide awareness and prevention training and education;

The construction of an adult crisis diversion center, and funding for respite beds and a mobile behavioral health crisis team. Law enforcement officers from across the county should have access to the diversion center.

A final budget for the tax funds is expected to be adopted by the King County Council in late September.