2022-05-31 Mental Health Tax updateMental Health Tax update
May 31, 2022
11 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Grose, Judge Toynbee, Stephanie
Miller, Lindsey Shankle, Meja Handlen, Shad Hail, Sheriff Snaza, Undersheriff Rethwill, Captain Chris
Tawes, Jonathan Meyer, Samantha Miller, Stacey Werner, Susie Palmateer, Lara McRea
Guest(s): Nic Scott
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Becky Butler provided an overview of the Mental Health Tax, including the history, the revenue sources
and expenditures. She said the Mental Health Tax funds the following: (Budget by program slide)
• S
• S
• S
• S
Becky said the fund balance was $2.5 million at the end of 2021.
Shad Hail said Juvenile Court receives roughly $50,000 for mental health services. He said the funding is
used to provide daily intervention care. He and Sheriff Snaza discussed the benefits of providing mental
health care for incarcerated youth.
Meja Handlen said Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) uses the bulk of its funding for the Nurse
Family Partnership, which helps first-time or at-risk mothers. Meja said PHSS also uses its funding to
provide Behavioral Health staff to help with programs that help the community.
Stephanie Miller said Superior Court uses its funding to help high-risk, high-need individuals overcome
substance abuse through Drug Court. She said the program’s success led Superior Court to create a
spinoff, the Family Recovery Court.
Judge Toynbee discussed the Drug Court participants’ community service efforts. Stephanie noted that
Drug Court has a 75 percent success rate.
Sheriff Snaza left at 11:40 a.m.
Stephanie said Drug Court provides housing for participants through the Drug Court house.
Judge Toynbee and Stephanie noted that Drug Court had rented its Drug Court House from Reliable
Enterprises for years but that Reliable increased rent more than 100 percent. They said they did not
know why the group hiked the rent so dramatically but that it sounds like the group plans to sell the
home.
Susie Palmateer discussed Superior Court’s Mental Health Alternative program, which uses Mental
Health Tax funding.
Undersheriff Rethwill said the Jail uses its funding to cover supplies, medications, NAPHCARE’s 24-hour
health care and a nurse as well as mental health care through Cascade Mental Health.
Undersheriff Rethwill said the Jail is requesting additional funding for mental health care through
Cascade Mental Health, noting that two grants that previously used to help pay for Cascade Mental
Health’s services (grants from the Criminal Justice Treatment Account [CJTA] and Great Rivers) will no
longer are available. He said Cascade employs eight staff members. He said the eight full-time staffers
accomplished the following in the course of just one month:
• Provided services to 156 inmates
• Provided mental health services to 39 suicidal inmates
• Responded to 356 other mental health / substance abuse issues
Captain Chris Tawes said the staff members help inmates with insurance needs, veteran care,
WorkSource and other services.
Samantha Mitchell said the Youth Advocacy Center is looking for funding to help sustain its program.
Lindsey Shankle said she is working with Samantha to identify potential funding opportunities.
Jonathan Meyer praised Drug Court’s efforts and outcomes.
Shad Hail said Juvenile Drug Court is preparing a revamp for a new, individual treatment court.
Meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.