It was good to see Port Orchard City Council members voting their conscience on approving a resolution to support the mental health tax initiative that would increase sales tax one-tenth of one percent in the county.

Councilmembers Cindy Lucarelli and Jerry Childs — even though they support funding for mental health — want the measure before the people. Councilman Rob Putaansuu said that the commissioners are elected to make the “tough decisions.”

Hearing testimony from several people who recovered from addictions and mental conditions, they owe their lives to the mental health and treatment centers in Kitsap County.

But there is a risk of putting the measure before the voters, but there is also a risk of putting it in the hand of three commissioners.

Commissioners and voters alike must understand the importance of how lives can be salvaged with funding mental health with the tax increase.

Less people in county jail, less people in emergency rooms, less crimes, less domestic violence, less drug and alcohol abuse. And more people contributing back to their communities, putting families back together, children to their fathers and mothers, and fathers and mothers to their children. Instead of asking for help, they can help someone who is going down the path they traveled.

It would take two commissioners or thousand of voters to pass or kill the measure.

Do we put it in the hands of three or in the hands of thousands?

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Super Bowl pick: San Francisco 28, Baltimore 17