Wheeling Township's planned do-over referendum on mental health board won't be on ballot

The Cook County clerk will not put Wheeling Township's planned do-over referendum on creating a community mental health board on the March ballot.

A spokeswoman for the clerk's office said legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Nov. 17 prohibits a mental health board referendum on next year's primary election ballot in any township where a similar measure passed in November 2022.

Voters in Wheeling Township approved such a referendum last year, authorizing the creation of a new property tax to support local organizations that address mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.

Township Supervisor Kathy Penner said she will discuss what comes next with the township board and attorney.

Wheeling Township officials had called the 2022 vote into question because of a flaw in the referendum's language. The ballot measure, they said, did not include legally required language about the property tax impact of its passage, potentially opening up the township to costly tax challenges.

In September, the township board voted to place a redo referendum on the March ballot.

Supporters of the initial referendum feared the proposed language in the second referendum would turn voters against the measure.

"(The clerk's announcement) means, hopefully, we're going to get past the roadblock and be able to provide more care in our community," said mental health board proponent Arlen Gould. "And that's just so badly needed and so important."

Hugh Brady, a board member of National Alliance on Mental Illness Northwest Suburbs Chicago, said the funding is needed to help organizations like Clearbrook, which has a waiting list for its services for people with disabilities. There are similar waiting lists for people needing psychiatric and substance abuse services, he added.

State Rep. Dan Didech, one of the backers of the legislation signed by the governor, said the Wheeling Township board still has until the last week in December to levy a tax for this year.

"They could call a special meeting and get everything done," he said. "It is now definitively in their court."