Public hearing set for mental health tax initiative

The Port Orchard City Council set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, for input on the Kitsap County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Action Plan

Local residents will get a chance to voice their concerns on a proposed mental health tax initiative.

The Port Orchard City Council set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, for input on the Kitsap County Mental Illness and Drug Dependency Action Plan that could generate between $2.8 million and $3.4 million annually.

The meeting is in the City Hall Council Chambers, 216 Prospect St.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Council could support or oppose the resolution.

Persons wishing to provide input may submit their comments in writing to the city clerk’s office no later than 4:30 p.m. Tuesday or in person during the public hearing.

For more information, call the city clerk’s office at (360) 876-4407.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the council could take action by adopting a resolution in support or opposition.

Persons wishing to provide input may submit their comments in writing to the city clerk’s office no later than 4:30 p.m. Tuesday or in person during the public hearing.

A group — which includes judges, health and hospital officials — is proposing a one-tenth of 1 percent increase of the sales and use tax that would provide funds for the provision of mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment programs, and services in the county.

The money would also be use for the operation or delivery of therapeutic court programs and services. The city tax rate would increase from 8.6 to 8.7 percent.

The group will present their proposed mental health tax initiative at a Kitsap County commissioners’ work-study session at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the Administration Building in Port Orchard. They will ask the board to consider passing a resolution to support the tax initiative.

If commissioners approve the resolution, a public hearing date will be set. Commissioners could institute the tax without a public vote, according to state law.

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